
Class 

Book 



5-I7 



YER-NON. SEMPER. VIRET. 



tmsxhl 



OF 



ADMIRAL VERNON, 

FROM CONTEMPORARY AUTHORITIES, 



BY 



WILLIAM FREDERICK VERNON. 



PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION. 



W. H. DALTON, BOOKSELLER TO THE QUEEN, 

28, COCKSPUR STREET. 

1861. 



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MEMOEIAL. 



Edwaed Veeno:n t , the second son of James 
Vernon, (Secretary of State to King William 
III.) by Mary, daughter of Sir John Buck, of 
Hamby Grange, Co. Lincoln, Bart., was born in 
"Westminster, on the 12th of November, 1684. 

At the age of seven he was sent to West- 
minster school, then under the direction of 
the famous Dr. Busby, a gentleman of very 
imperious temper. 

Young Vernon studied the Latin and Greek 
tongues assiduously, and by a seven years appli- 
cation, had made a considerable progress in both, 
as also in Hebrew, yet from the time he could 
walk, he betrayed an inclination towards the 
Naval Service. His allowance in pocket-money 
vvas frequently spent among seamen ; and as the 
battle of La Hogue, wherein the French lost 
twenty-one ships of the line, had happened a 
few years before, and many of the sailors who 
had fought in that memorable action, had come 
to reside near the place where Mr. Vernon 
was, so he talked with them upon the several 



4 MEMOEIAL OF 

scenes they had gone through. These he would 
often rehearse among his school-fellows, who soon 
began to call him the Admiral ; an appellation 
which in his riper years he so honourably bore. 

His father was very desirous of his studying 
the Law, but young Vernon would not hear of 
it, and at last his father consented to his follow- 
ing his inclination, and entering the Navy. 

Young Vernon had now made such progress 
in Latin, that he was able (at the age of six- 
teen) to hold a dialogue upon any ordinary sub- 
ject in that language. He now, at his own de- 
sire, began to study Mathematics, Navigation? 
and Geography, and for this purpose he was 
sent to Oxford, where he attended the lectures 
of Dr. John Keil, Savilian professor of Astro- 
nomy. Under him he attained a general know- 
ledge of Geometry. Upon his return from the 
University, he studied the theory of Navigation 
under a private tutor ; and afterwards applied 
himself to fortification and gunnery — in all 
which he made very considerable progress. 

At this time Mr. Vernon became personally 
acquainted with Sir Isaac Newton, who treated 
him with the tenderness and affection of a 
father. He first shewed him the method of 
taking the latitude by an observation of the 



ADMIRAL VER^Otf. 

Pole-star — telling him that he wished an instru- 
ment could be found for discovering the longitude, 
but this he despaired of. 

In 1701, Vernon entered the Navy. The 
first expedition in which he was concerned, is 
famous in the annals of England. He was with 
Admiral Hopson in the Torlay, at the destroying 
of the French fleet of thirty sail of the line, 
and twenty-two Spanish galleons, in the har- 
bour of Vigo, on the 12th October, 1702. This 
expedition was conducted by Sir G-eorge Eook, 
in the Somerset, and executed by Admiral Hop- 
son. 

Vernon's behaviour was particularly remarked 
by Admiral Hopson, who recommended him to 
the Admiralty. 

We next find Mr. Vernon as second Lieute- 
nant on board the Resolution, in the expedition 
under Captain Walker, whose armament con- 
sisted of five third-rates and ten transports, hav- 
ing four regiments on board, they blocked up 
the harbours of Hispaniola, sunk several priva- 
teers, took the town of La Bayliffe, and Basse- 
terre in Guadeloupe. Here Vernon made him- 
self thoroughly acquainted with the Leeward 
Islands, drew plans of the harbours, and sounded 
the bays with such exactness that hardly a sand- 



6 MEMOEIAL OF 

v bank escaped his observation. After destroying 
the shipping of the enemy, the squadron returned 
to England. 

The year 1704, Sir George Eook conveyed the 
King of Spain, (since known by the name of 
Charles VI. Emperor of Germany), to Lisbon, 
where they arrived on the 25th February. His 
Catholic Majesty, in token of his satisfaction, 
complimented Sir George Eook with a sword, 
the hilt of which was set with diamonds, a buckle 
for an hatband, and a hook to cock up the hat, 
set with diamonds also. To Captain "Wishart 
he gave his picture set with diamonds, and two 
hundred guineas. To Captain Fletcher, the 
like picture, and one hundred guineas. To each 
of the Captains who carried over his retinue, one 
hundred guineas and a gold medal ; and to the 
other Captains, fifty pistoles each, and fifty for 
their respective companies. To Lord Archibald 
Hamilton and Captain Bertie, each the like 
picture as to Captain Fletcher, and one hundred 
guineas. To Colonel Griffith of the Board of 
Green Cloth, his Majesty's picture. He likewise 
ordered a thousand pistoles to be distributed 
among the other officers of the Queens family 
who had attended upon him. Mr. Vernon, who 



ADMIRAL VERNON". 7 

was in the Admiral's own ship, had an hundred 
guineas, and a ring from his Majesty's own hand. 
Sir George Eook sailed on the 9th, leaving 
Vice- Admiral Leake at Lisbon, and on the 12th, 
he fell in with and took three Spanish ships of 
force and a dogger, and returned to Lisbon with 
his prizes. On the 29th of April, Sir George 
Eook again left Lisbon with thirty-seven sail of 
the line, and four fire-ships, and joined Sir 
Cloudesley Shovel at sea, they then agreed to 
niake a sudden attack upon Gibraltar. 

On the 21st the marines, both English and 
Dutch to the number of 1800, headed by the 
Prince of Hesse, were landed on the isthmus 
to the north of the Eock. This done, his High- 
ness sent a summons to the Governor, demanding 
the town should be surrendered to King Charles 
III., which being refused, soon after break of 
day, on the 23rd, a furious cannonade began. 
Above 10,000 shot were fired into the town in 
five hours. The enemy were driven from their 
guns in every quarter. The south mole head 
was taken by Captains Whitaker, Hicks and 
Jumper. They then advanced and took a re- 
doubt half way between the mole and the town, 
(since called Jumper's battery), and possessed 



8 MEMOSIAL OF 

themselves of many of the enemy's cannon. 
The Admiral on this sent a letter to the Go- 
vernor, and another to the Prince of Hesse, 
desiring his Highness to summon the garrison 
peremptorily to surrender the town. 

Accordingly, the next day, a capitulation was 
proposed by them and agreed upon. Everything 
in the place was given up, except three brass 
cannon, with twelve charges of powder and ball. 
The Prince of Hesse marched into the town in 
the evening and took possession of the gates and 
works. The garrison only consisted of one hun- 
dred and fifty men ! 

The reduction of Gibraltar was followed by a 
sea-fight off Barcelona, between the French 
fleet, and those of England and Holland : the 
former consisted of fifty ships of the line, and 
eight frigates; the latter of three and fifty, 
twelve of which were Dutch. 

The engagement began on the morning of 
the 13th August, and continued for two hours, 
when the van and rear of the Erench began to 
give way, the former fled from Sir Cloudesley 
Shovel, and the latter from the Dutch Admiral. 
However, the main body of the Erench was very 
strong, and the ammunition of the English ships 
being spent before Gibraltar, several ships of 



ADMIEAL YEENOK. 9 

Eear- Admiral Byng's and Dilke's division with- 
drew from the line. 

The battle ended with the day; and the 
French fleet retired to Toulon. 

Sir George Rook set out for England and ar- 
rived at Spithead 25th September, and on the 
29th waited on the Queen, who received him in 
the most gracious manner ; and, with her Eoyal 
Consort, expressed an entire satisfaction with 
every part of his conduct. Among the rewards 
given on this occasion, Mr. Vernon received a 
purse of two hundred guineas from her Majesty's 
own hand. 

In 1705 Mr. Vernon sailed with Sir Cloudesley 
Shovel, who was again sent out to the Mediter- 
ranean. On the 17th July his Catholic Majesty 
went on board the Ranelagh at Lisbon and 
sailed for Gibraltar, where under protection of 
the fleet he first took possession of his kingdom. 
From Gibraltar the fleet having 12,000 land 
forces on board sailed on the 5th August for 
Barcelona, where the troops w r ere landed under 
the Earl of Peterborough. On the 6th Sep- 
tember, the citadel surrendered to Colonel 
Southwell, who was made Governor. The siege 
was pushed on with vigour, and on the 2nd Octo- 
ber, the King made his entry into Barcelona, 



10 MEMOEIAL OF 

attended by some of the Grandees of Spain, the 
Admirals of the Fleet, Generals, and numerous 
retinue, of whom Mr. Vernon was one. After this 
Mr. Vernon was in all the operations of the 
fleet under Sir Cloudesley Shovel, and was on 
board the Phoenix when she was lost in a storm 
on the roeks of Scilly. 

"We next find Mr. Vernon in 1707 engaged in 
the Channel on board the Royal Oak, 76. 

Shortly after he was appointed Captain of the 
Jersey and sent to Port Koyal, Jamaica. 

In January, 1706, he took a Spanish sloop, and 
retook from the French a Guinea ship with 400 
negroes on board. 

On the 20th November, Admiral "Wager ar- 
rived at St. Helens in the Jersey. 

The following year we find Captain Vernon 
again out in the West Indies in command of 
the Jersey, where he was most active. On the 20th 
February, 1709, he destroyed a French ship of 
20 guns, and after three years continuous ser- 
vice on the West Indian stations he returned to 
England. The 18th May, 1715, Captain Vernon 
accompanied Sir John Noma's fleet to the 
Baltic, where he arrived 10th June, in com- 
mand of the Assistance, of 50 guns. A Dutch 
squadron was sent at the same time to join them. 



ADMIRAL YERNOtf. 11 

The Admirals and Captains were magnificently 
entertained by the Danish Court at Croninburgh, 
from whence they sailed on the 17th June, 
and escorted the merchant ships under them to 
Dantzic, Koningsburg, Eiga, Eevel, and the re- 
spective ports of their destinations. The fleet 
then returned to England for the winter. 

The five following summers Captain Vernon was 
employed in the Baltic in command of a 50-gun 
ship, one of a large fleet under Sir John Norris, 
sent there for the protection of our trade. 

In 1722 Captain Vernon was elected member 
for Dunwich in Suffolk and Penryn in Cornwall ; 
he selected the latter as being the borough which 
his father, Secretary James Vernon, had repre- 
sented from 1695 until 1710. 

In 1726 Captain Vernon was appointed to the 
Grafton, 70, and sailed for the Baltic with the 
fleet under the command of Vice-Admiral Sir 
Charles "Wager ; this fleet consisted of thirty-one 
sail of the line, one of twenty guns and two fire- 
ships. ("We were at this time at war with 
Eussia) They cruised about the whole summer, 
and blockaded the Eussians in their ports, and 
returned to the Nore the 1st November. 

In 1727 Sir John Norris was sent into the 



12 MEMOEIAL OP 

Baltic, and Captain Vernon in the Grafton again 
formed one of his fleet. 

This year, 11th of June, his Majesty George 
the 1st died, aged 67, and in consequence a new 
Parliament was called. Captain Vernon was again 
chosen for Penryn. 

But this did not detain him in England, for 
on the 13th October he joined Sir Charles 
"Wager before Gibraltar — and on the 28th of 
Apri], 1728, a reconciliation having been effected 
between England and Spain, the fleet returned 
to England. 

Captain Vernon now took his seat in the 
House of Commons, and as very warm debates 
happened concerning the depredations committed 
by the Spaniards on our trading vessels in the 
"West Indies, he always spoke on that side of 
the argument which was for executing imme- 
diate vengeance upon the transgressors. And 
though by the eloquence of Sir Robert Walpole, 
Sir "William Tounge, and Henry Pelham, Esq. 
the vengeance due was deferred ; yet, by the 
persuasive arguments of Mr. Pitt, the prevailing 
reasonings of Mr. Pulteney, and the honest de- 
clarations of Captain Vernon, &c, the House came 
to the resolution to present an Address to his 



ADMIRAL YERNOK. 13 

Majesty that he would be graciously pleased to 
use his best endeavours to prevent such abuses 
for the future. 

In answer to this Address, his Majesty ordered 
thirty-three ships of war to be equipped imme- 
diately. They rendezvoused at Spithead, and 
were there to be joined by a squadron of four- 
teen Dutch men-of-war. The united squadrons 
were to have proceeded at once to Jamaica, had 
not the Honourable Morgan Yane arrived ex- 
press from Madrid with the Treaty of Peace 
signed and concluded by that Court, and all 
went on tolerably smoothly for a few years ; then 
began again complaints of depredations com- 
mitted by the Spaniards upon our merchants, 
and negociations were set on foot both in Lon- 
don and Madrid for terminating the differences 
in America. 

By the Convention of Pardo of the 14th 
January, 1739, the Court of Spain, upon ba- 
lancing accompts with the South Sea Company, 
engaged to pay them ^890,000, in four months, 
reserving to herself the power of making a deduc- 
tion of what the Company might be indebted 
to the Spaniards. This became the subject of 
a fresh quarrel; and the accompts of private 
merchants produced a war, wherein both nations 



14 HEA10BIAL OP 

expended a thousand times more than the de- 
mand of either. 

During these transactions, one Jenkins, the 
captain of a vessel which had been taken, pre- 
sented himself before the House of Commons in 
1739, with Ms nose split, and ivanting his ears, 
that had been cut off: he asserted that he had 
carried on no contraband trade, but was taken 
on the American coast by a Spanish Guar da 
Costa, whose commander seized his ship, laid the 
crew in irons, and had left him these mangled 
tokens. " Gentlemen, (said he) after mangling 
" me in this manner, they threatened to put me 
" to death ; I expected it, and recommended my 
" soul to God, but the revenge of my cause to 
"my country." 

These words raised pity in the whole assembly ; 
the citizens of London crowded to see Jenkins, 
and loudly demanded war. 

It was during the debates which ensued upon 
this subject, that Captain Vernon, who was a 
fierce and not ineloquent assailant in debate, and 
the delight of his party in the House of Com- 
mons, came prominently before the public and 
asserted that not only could Porto Bello be cap- 
tured, if officers did their duty, but that he 
pledged himself to take it with six ships only. 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 15 

SirEobert Walpole, finding the nation deter- 
mined upon a war, ield a conference with the 
Lords of the Admiralty, to which several Cap- 
tains were invited. In this numerous meeting 
was Mr. Vernon, who being asked his advice, 
notwithstanding he had been neglected, merely 
through his opposition to Ministers in the 
House of Commons, and that he had no pros- 
pect of their favour, spoke with all the coolness 
and deliberation that an honest and upright 
heart could suggest ; he told the assembly, that, 
" though he looked upon a war with Spain as 
" hurtful to the nation in general, and to the 
tC trade of the City of London in particular, yea^ 
" to the mercantile part of the whole kingdom, 
u yet now that they were to consider of the 
" manner of affecting Spain, in the most sensible 
*■ part, he could not be so far wanting in his 
'% duty to his King, and country, and to his own 
" conscience, as not to speak the sentiments of 
"his heart upon so important a subject/' "I," 
continued he, " have had an opportunity of 
" knowing Old Spain since the year 1702, and 
i( New Spain since the year 171] ; happy had it 
" been for the inhabitants of the former, that 
"they had never been acquainted with the ter- 
" ritory of the latter ; for there be many mines 



16 MEMOEIAL Or 

"in Old Spain untouched, notwithstanding what 
"is said of their being exhausted by the Car- 
" thaginians and Romans, by the Goths and the 
" Moors ; trained up in this preposterous opinion, 
"the Spaniards neglect improving their country 
" at home, and seek for riches in the new world ; 
" they dig deep into the bowels of their new 
" settlements in quest of riches, which last are 
" their only support ; destroy their settlements 
"in America, and Spain falls of course; their 
" priests, and numerous seminaries of monks 
"and nuns, these trumpeters of a gloomy re- 
" ligion, will destroy what their own idleness and 
" want of industry may casually have spared ; 
" wherefore, my opinion is, that a strong squadron 
" be sent to the "West Indies, to distress the 
" enemy in their very vitals, to destroy their 
" mines, to seize upon their treasures, to take 
" their ships, and to ruin their settlements ; 
" let them be attacked in as many places as 
"possible at the same time, let us even ex- 
" tend our endeavours to the very Antipodes of 
" Madrid ; for I know the Spaniards trade there." 
He then gave a description of the Isthmus of 
Darien, of Porto Bello, and of Carthagena, the 
very centre of the Spanish treasures ; and con- 
cluded with saying, " that if once Porto Bello and 



ADMIEAL VEEN OK. 



17 



" Carthagena were taken, then will all be lost to 
11 them." 

This speech was received by the whole assem- 
bly with approbation, as it came from the mouth 
of a brave honest man. The issue of the con- 
ference was laid before the King and Privy, 
council, who saw the advantage of Mr. Vernon's 
proposal, and a resolution was taken to employ 
him in the service. 

He was in bed at Chatham when the courier 
arrived with the news, about two o'clock in the 
morning. On opening the packet, he found a 
commission declaring him Vice-Admiral of the 
Blue, and Commander-in-Chief of a squadron of 
his Majesty's ships of war to be sent to the 
West Indies ; at the same time there was a letter 
requiring his immediate attendance upon the 
King at St. James's. He immediately ordered 
a post-chaise to be got ready, and arrived at St. 
James's at 10 in the morning. 

On the 19th July, 1739, Admiral Vernon re- 
ceived his final instructions under his Majesty's 
sign-manual, "To destroy the Spanish settle- 
"ments in the "West Indies, and to distress 
" their shipping by every method whatever." 

He desired but three days to settle his do- 
mestic business, while the ships were getting 

B 



18 MEMOEIAL OF 

ready to sail. The following is a list of the men 

«/ o 

of war. 

The Purford, on board of which the Admiral 
hoisted his flag, Captain "Watson, she mounted 
70 guns, and contained 500 men. 

Lenox— 70 guns, 480 men, Captain Colvil 
Mayne. 

Elizabeth — 70 guns, 480 men, Captain Edward 
Effingham. 

Kent — 70 guns, and 480 men, Captain Thomas 
Durell. 

Worcester — 60 guns, and 400 men, Captain 
Perry Mayne. 

Stafford — 60 guns, 400 men, Captain Thomas 
Trevor. 

Princess Louisa — 60 guns, 420 men, Captain 
Thomas "Waterhouse. 

Norwich — 50 guns, 300 men, Captain Richard 
Herbert. 

Pearl — 40 guns, 240 men, Captain Hon. 
Henry Legge. 

They weighed anchor 23rd July, from Ports- 
mouth, and in two days arrived in Portland road, 
where they were detained by contrary wind till 
the 1st August, in which interval of time he 
exercised the sailors and marines. Of the latter 



ADMIRAL VEllNON. 19 

two-thirds had never seen an engagement, and 
many had never fired a musket. 

Touched with the situation of his country and 
moved with compassion for the men, he wrote a 
letter to the Duke of Newcastle, then one of the 
principal Secretaries of State, and represented 
the affair, at the same time proposing a remedy. 

"I could wish/' continued he, " we had each 
<c of us a company of foot of regular troops, sent 
" on board each ship, which would have strength- 
u ened us in numbers, as well as had their ex- 
" pertness in handling their arms, to have incited 
" our men to the imitation of them. 

" If we should come into a general war with 
" France as well as Spain, I believe your Grace 
" will have clearly perceived, from the difficulty 
ct of manning these ships as they are, the necessity 
" there may be for having most of our marching 
" regiments converted into marines ; and if they 
" become seamen, they were admitted to be dis- 
charged as such : that would make a good 
" nursery for breeding them at a time we might 
" probably find such a necessity for them. 

" As I have always looked upon our fleet, as 
" what must not only protect our trade, but se- 
" cure us the blessing of a Protestant succession, 
" your Grace will excuse the overflowing of 



20 MEMOEIAL OF 

" sincere, though it may be an imprudent zeal, 
" being convinced in my own judgment, that 
" preserving a superiority at sea, is the best se- 
" curity for his Majesty's government, as well as 
" of the trade and prosperity of the kingdom/ ' 

This letter was laid before the Privy Council, 
and it was recommended that regard should be 
had to the Admiral's proposals. 

On the 2nd August, he arrived at Caveson 
bay, off Plymouth, where he was becalmed for 
fourteen hours, next morning they got under 
weigh. 

On the 6th day Captain Perry Maine, of the 
Worcester, made Cape Ortegal ; where he was 
informed that the Perrol squadron had sailed on 
the 21st for Cadiz, and that the Azogues ships 
had not yet arrived. He stationed the Lenox, 
Elizabeth and Kent for thirty days to wait the 
arrival of the Azogues, and sent the Pearl to 
her station between Lisbon and Oporto for 
three months. He then sailed for Madeira 
to water, where he arrived on the 26th August, 
and hoped to meet the Azogues ships at the 
Canaries. 

On the morning of the 30th of August, the 
squadron sailed for Antigua, off which island 
they arrived on the 29th September. Hearing 



ADMIEAL YERNOtf. 21 

that three Spanish ships were taking in goods 
on the Caraccas Coast, the Admiral sent an 
equal number to surprise them. He then pro- 
ceeded to Port Boyal, Jamaica, where he ar- 
rived on the 12th of October. 

Here the Admiral received intelligence that 
neither the Perrol Fleet, nor any of the galleons 
were ready to sail for Europe ; that no fair had 
yet been opened at Porto Bello : and that no 
ship would sail till after Christmas. 

This entirely altered the Admiral's thoughts ; 
an attack upon Carthagena or Porto Bello became 
the immediate object of his next proceedings. 

On the 28th, Commodore Brown returned 
from a cruise, and from the information he gave, 
the Admiral resolved to sail immediately for 
Porto Bello, destroy the forts, and if the Spanish 
galleons had arrived there, to attack them in 
the harbour. Accordingly he communicated 
with Grovernor Trelawney, who furnished him 
with 200 men under Captain Newton, to act as 
Marines, being half the land force of the whole 
island. An embargo was laid upon all shipping 
for three days, to prevent intelligence being 
carried to the enemy. And on the 5th of No- 
vember, 1739, Vice- Admiral Vernon put to sea 
with the following ships : 



22 MEMORIAL OE 

Guns. Men. 

Burford ..70 500 j Admiral Vernon. 
J I Captamltentone. 

Hampton Court 70 495 j CaptSwateoS: 

Princess Louisa 60 400 Capt.'Waterhouse. 
Worcester . . 60 400 Captain Mayne. 
Strafford . . 60 400 Captain Trevor. 
Norwich , . 50 300 Captain Herbert. 
Sheemess . . 20 „ Capt. Stapleton. 

This last was sent to cruise off Carthagena. 

On the 20th of November, 1739, he came in 
sight of Porto Bello, having been delayed in his 
passage by contrary winds. There being but 
little wind that evening, though a great deal of 
swell, he anchored for the night six leagues off 
the shore, being apprehensive of driving to the 
eastward of the harbour. On the 21st, in the 
morning, the Admiral plyed to windward in line 
of battle ; but the wind proving easterly, he was 
obliged to confine his attack to the Iron Fort 
only, close to which the squadron was piloted by 
Captain Eentone. 

Commodore Brown, in the Hampton Court, 
who led the attack, executed his part as became 
an officer of experience and resolution ; being 
well followed by Captain Herbert in the Nor* 
wicli, and Captain Mayne in the Worcester ; the 



ADMIHAL VEKN'Off. 23 

Admiral perceived that some of the Spaniards 
fled from several parts of the fort ; upon which 
he made the signal for the boats in which the 
soldiers were to make the best of their way in 
order to their landing, while he was coming up 
to the Tort to batter it. The Admiral luffing up 
as near to the Fort as he could, the fire of his 
small arms commanded the enemy's lower bat- 
teries, and had a good effect in driving them 
from those batteries from which they could do 
most harm ; and by this means the men were 
also secured at landing : and this (as the enemy 
afterwards confessed) was the principal occasion 
of their deserting the lower batteries, the small- 
shot from the former ships not having reached 
them, though their cannon had beat down some 
of the upper part of the Fort. As the boats came 
near the Admiral's ship, he called to them to go 
directly on shore under the walls of the Fort, 
though there was no breach made; but this an- 
swered as was expected, by throwing the enemy 
into a general consternation, the officers and men 
who had stood to the lower battery, flying to 
the upper part of the Fort, where they held up 
a white signal for capitulating. The Admiral 
answered with a white flag, but it was sometime 
before he could stop his own men, and those on. 



24 MEMORIAL OF 

board the Strafford, Captain Trevor, which fol- 
lowed him, from firing. 

In the mean time the seamen had climbed up 
the walls of the lower battery and struck the 
colours, and then drew the soldiers up after 
them, to whom the Spaniards, who had retired 
to the upper part of the Fort, soon after surren- 
dered at discretion. 

Their number was only 5 officers and 35 men, 
out of 300, the rest being either killed or 
wounded, or having made their escape. 

The ships that went in before the Admiral 
were fallen to leeward, so as to be out of sight 
of the Gloria Castle ; but the Admiral's own 
ship, lying open to the said castle, they kept 
firing one of their longest guns at him till night ; 
but not being within point-blank, their shot 
either fell short, or went over him ; only one 
shot went through the head of his fore-top mast, 
just above the rigging, so that it did no harm. 
The Admiral, finding they continued their firing, 
tried some of his lower tier at them ; which being 
new guns, answered beyond expectation, carry- 
ing over the Gloria Castle into the town. This 
successful beginning was attended with a very 
inconsiderable loss, there being only three men 
killed and five wounded on board the Admiral's 



ADMIEAL YERtfOST. 25 

ship ; the like number were killed and wounded 
on board the Worcester, and one man had both 
his legs shot off on board the Hampton Court. 
The other ships had none killed or wounded, 
and only two soldiers were shot going ashore, 
one of which died soon after of his wounds. 

The next morning being the 22nd November, 
the Admiral went on board Commodore Brown 
to call the Captains to consult together, and give 
out the necessary orders for warping the ships 
up the next night in order to attack the Gloria 
Castle, as it would not have been practicable to 
attempt it in the daytime. But in this he 
was prevented by the enemy's putting up a 
white flag at the Grloria Castle, and sending 
a boat with a flag of truce to the Admiral, 
with the Governor's Adjutant, and a Lieu- 
tenant of a man-of-war, who brought the 
conditions signed, on which they desired to capi- 
tulate. In answer to which, the Admiral im- 
mediately drew up the terms on which he would 
admit them to capitulate, and dispatched them 
back again, allowing them only a few hours to 
take their resolution; and within the time 
limited, they accepted the conditions offered 
them. And before night, on Thursday, the 
said 22nd November, the Admiral sent Cap- 



26 MEMORIAL or 

tain Newton, who commanded the detachment 
of soldiers from Jamaica, with about 120 of the 
said soldiers who took possession of Gloria Cas- 
tle, and St. Jeronimo Port, being the remaining 
fortresses, that guarded the harbour of Porto 
Bello, the Gloria Castle lying just below the 
town, and St. Jeronimo just above it. 

" The following were the Articles of Capitula- 
tion granted by Edward Vernon, Esq. Vice- 
Admiral of the Blue and Commander-in-Chief 
of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in the "West 
Indies, and Commodore Brown ; to Don Pran- 
cisio Martinez de Eetey, Governor of Porto 
Bello, and Don Prancisio de Albaroa, Comman- 
dant of the Guarda Costas at the same place* 
the 22nd November, 1739, O.S. 

" 1st Article. That the garrison be allowed to 
march out, as desired, upon condition the King 
of Great Britain's troops be put into possession 
of Gloria Castle, before four of the clock this 
evening, and the garrison to march out by ten of 
the clock to-morrow morning. 

" That the inhabitants may either remove or 
remain, under the promise of security for them- 
selves and their effects. 

" 2nd. That the Spanish soldiers may have a 
guard, if they think it necessary. 



ADMIEAL YEENOK. 27 

u 3rd. They may carry offtwocannons mounted 
with ten charges of powder for each, and their 
match lighted. 

" 4th. The gates of the Gloria Castle must ab- 
solutely be in possession of the King our mas- 
ter's troops by four of the clock, and the Spanish 
garrison shall remain in all safety for their per- 
sons or effects till the appointed time of their 
marching out, and to carry with them provisions 
and ammunition necessary for their safety. 

" 5th. That the ships with their apparel and 
arms, be absolutely delivered up to the use of his 
Britannic Majesty; but that all the officers, 
both soldiers and crew, shall have three days 
allowed them to retire with all their personal 
effects ; only one officer being admitted on 
board such ship and vessel, to take possession 
for the King our master, and see this article 
strictly complied with. 

" 6th. That provided the Articles above men- 
tioned are strictly complied with, and that pos- 
session be given of Castle St. Jeronimo in the 
same manner as is stipulated for the Castle 
Gloria, then the Clergy, the Churches and Town 
shall be protected and preserved in all their 
immunities and properties, and that all prisoners 
already taken shall be set at liberty before our 
leaving the port. 



28 MEMOEIAL OF 

"Given under our hands on board his Majesty's 
ship JBurford in Porto Bello harbour, the 22nd 
day of November, 1739, O.S. 

"E. Vee^on. 
" CzjA Brows." 

There were in the harbour two Spanish men- 
of-war, 20-guns each, and a Snow; the crews 
of which seeing the regular and bold attack 
which was made on the Iron fort, and despairing 
of being able to defend themselves, fell to plun- 
dering the town on the night of the 21st, and 
committed great outrages on the inhabitants. 

The Admiral took on board his ships from the 
several fortresses, 40 brass cannons, 4 brass mor- 
tars, and 18 brass pattereroes ; and rendered 
useless above 80 iron cannon, by knocking off the 
trunnions, and spiking them up. He also took 
on board all their shot and ammunition, except 
122 barrels of powder, which he expended in 
blowing up and demolishing the whole of the 
fortifications, by which the harbour was left 
entirely open. Ten thousand dollars, that were 
arrived, and designed for paying the King of 
Spain's troops at Porto Bello, falling into the 
Admiral's hands, he distributed them among his 
Majesty's Porces, for their encouragement. 

The Admiral was joined at Porto Bello on the 



ADMIRAL VERNOjS". 2D 

27th November by the Diamond, Captain 
Knowles, and on the 29th by the Windsor Castle, 
Captain Berkeley, and the Anglesea, Captain 
Eeddich. In consideration of the services per- 
formed by Captain Eentone (who acted as pilot 
in this expedition) the Admiral appointed him 
commander of the Spanish Snow, and sent him to 
England with the dispatches. 

During the Admiral's stay at Porto Bello, he 
obtained the release of Mr. Humphreys, and Dr. 
Wright, factors, and also the servants of the 
South Sea Company, who were detained pri- 
soners by the Governor of Panama. The 
Governor and inhabitants of Porto Bello ex- 
pressed the greatest sense of the humanity and 
generosity with which they were treated by the 
Admiral and his Majesty's squadron under his 
command. 

This is a proof of what we might have done 
many years ago, when in 1726 Admiral Hosier 
was sent out with a considerable fleet, and at 
which time we had a much superior force in the 
West Indies, but he had instructions not to make 
aggressions on the enemy, and the result was 
that he w r as obliged to remain inactive at sea, 
insulted and despised by the Spaniards till his 
crew became diseased, and he at last died of a 
broken heart. He was a brave sailor, but his 



30 MEMOEIAL OF 

orders compelled him to remain inactive. 
Fewer men were now lost in the taking of Porto 
Bello, than died every day, whilst Admiral 
Hosier lay in that unwholesome climate. For, 
besides himself, two other Admirals, thirteen 
Captains, above forty Lieutenants, and 4000 
seamen were lost in that expedition. 

On the 13th March, 1740, Captain Eentone 
arrived in London with this account. There 
was great joy among the people of England. 
On the 18th March, 1740, the following address 
was presented to his Majesty by both Houses of 
Parliament. 

"Most G-kacious Soteeeigx, 

Ci We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal 
subjects, the Lords spiritual and temporal, and 
Commons in Parliament assembled, do congra- 
tulate your Majesty on the glorious success of 
your Majesty's arms in the West Indies, under 
the command of Admiral Vernon, by entering 
the Port and taking the town of Porto Bello, 
and demolishing and levelling all the Forts and 
Castles belonging thereto, with sic ships of war 
only. 

"This enterprise, so wisely concerted and so 
bravely conducted, cannot fail of giving the ut- 
most joy to all your Majesty's faithful subjects. 
since it affords the most reasonable hopes and 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 31 

expectations, that by the blessing of God upon 
your Majesty's councils and arms, it may be at- 
tended with other important advantages, and 
highly contribute to the obtaining real and 
effectual security, of those just rights of naviga- 
tion and commerce, belonging to your Majesty's 
subjects, for the preservation of whica your 
Majesty entered into this necessary war." 

To which his Majesty replied : 

" My Lords and Gentlemen, I thank you 
for your dutiful congratulations on this success 
which is so much for the honour and interest of 
my crown and kingdoms. The satisfaction you 
express in the measures I have taken is very 
agreeable to me.' ' 

On the 18th March, 1740, the Thanks of 
both Houses of Parliament were voted to 
Admiral Vernon, and on Tuesday, 25th March, 
a Court of Common Council was held at Guild- 
hall, when, after about six hours debate, an 
address was agreed to, and drawn up to congra- 
tulate his Majesty upon the glorious success of 
Admiral Vernon in taking Porto Bello, demo- 
lishing the Ports, Castles, &c. with six ships of 
war only, and the Admiral was voted the Free- 
dom of the City, and to be delivered to him in a 
gold box. 



32 MEMORIAL OF 

But to return to the West Indies. 

Vice-Admiral Vernon having refitted his ships 
at Jamaica, shifted his flag on board the Strafford, 
(his old ship, the JBurford, having got ashore 
and been damaged), and on the 25th February, 
1740, sailed with a squadron for the Spanish main. 

On the 6th March, he bombarded Carthagena 
for three days, and having burnt and destroyed 
many of the buildings, he hauled off and returned 
to Porto Bello harbour, to repair the damages 
sustained by his bomb-ketches and small craft. 

On the 22nd March, he attacked Chagres, 
which after two days bombardment, surrendered 
to him, of which operations the following is the 
detailed and official account. 

From the London Gazette, Whitehall, June 
29th, 1740. 

This day, Mr. Thomas, Purser of his Majesty's 
ship Strafford, arrived here with letters from 
Vice-Admiral Vernon, dated Porto Bello, April 
5th, to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, and 
with the following account, viz. 

That on the 25th February, 1740, Admiral 
Vernon sailed from Port Eoyal in Jamaica, with 
a squadron of his Majesty's ships, and having a 
favourable wind, got sight of the high land of 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 33 

Santa Martha on the Spanish main, on the 1st 
March. That he ordered Captain Vfindham in 
the Greenwich to ply up in the night, and lie to 
windward of the port, for intercepting anything 
that might be coming in there the next day ; and 
then bore away with an easy sail for Carthagena. 
That the 3rd at noon, he was joined by the Fal- 
mouth, Captain Douglass, off Point Canoa, and 
that evening anchored with the squadron before 
Carthagena, in nine fathom water, in the open 
bay called Plaza- Grande ; and on the 6th he 
ordered in all the bomb-ketches, and the small 
ships and tenders for covering and assisting 
them, and continued bombarding till nine in the 
morning. That the squadron received no da- 
mage from the town, but the shells fell into the 
town pretty successfully, particularly into the 
principal church, the Jesuits' College, the Cus- 
tom-house, and beat down several houses be- 
tween them, and a shell that fell into the south 
bastion silenced a battery of ten guns there for 
a long time. That he drew off his bomb-ketches 
and small craft on the 9th, and weighed with 
his squadron on the 10th in the morning, and 
making the signal for the line of battle, he 
coasted the shore towards Bocca Chica; that 
they fired at him from the three small castles 

c 



84 MEMOEIAL OF 

without Bocca Chica, but none of their shot 
reached him ; and that having left the Windsor, 
Captain Berkeley, and the Greenwich, Captain 
Windham, to cruise off the port of Carthagena 
for twenty days, he made sail for Porto Bello, 
to repair there the damages the small craft had 
received ; and on the 14th anchored with his 
squadron in Porto Bello harbour, detaching his 
cruisers from time to time to lie off Chagre to 
block up the enemy ; and having got his ships 
watered, put to sea on the 22nd with his squad- 
ron, except the Louisa and Falmouth, which had 
not completed their watering, but had his orders 
to hasten it and follow him ; but an accident in 
the fore-topsail yard of his ship, the Strafford, 
retarding her progress, he ordered Captain 
Herbert in the Norwich, to make all sail he 
could in before him, with the bomb-ketches, and 
all the fire-ships and tenders under his orders, 
and Captain Knowles as engineer on board the 
bomb-ketches, for placing them to play on the 
castle, and to cover them with his own ship and 
the rest; that Captain Knowles got to an anchor 
by three in the afternoon, and began bombard- 
ing and cannonading that evening, and by 10 of 
the clock at night, he got also to an anchor with 
his own ship, the Strafford, and the Falmouth 



ADMIRAL VERtfOtf. 35 

and Princess Louisa, that followed him, the 
same night; and continued bombarding and 
cannonading, with three ships firing leisurely- 
only from their lower tier, till Monday, the 24th, 
when the Spaniards hung out a flag of truce 
from the fort, and he answered it from his own 
ship, and stopt all firing as soon as possible, and 
sent Captain Knowles on shore, who soon re- 
turned with the Governor; to whom having 
granted the capitulation hereto subjoined, he 
sent him ashore again with Captain Knowles, 
whom he appointed Governor of the castle for 
his Majesty, and sent a garrison along with him 
of five lieutenants and 120 men, and all the 
boats of the fleet to land them ; and by three 
o'clock that afternoon, Captain Knowles entered 
the fort with his garrison. The same evening 
Captain Knowles sent and placed a guard upon 
the Custom-house on the opposite side of the 
river Chagre, and Vice- Admiral Vernon went 
on shore himself by daybreak the next morning, 
to give all necessary orders, and found the Cus- 
tom-house full of goods for the lading of galleons, 
such as Guayaquil cocoa, Jesuit's bark and 
Spanish wool; and gave immediate orders for 
their being speedily shipped off. The number 
of serons and bags of the said mentioned goods 



36 MEMOEIAL OF 

amounted to 4,300 ; that the two G-uarda Costa 
sloops in the river (which were all the G-uarda 
Costas that were left in those parts), were sunk- 
just above the Custom-house, carpenters hav- 
ing been ordered to break up their decks, and 
entirely destroy them. 

The Custom-house, being entirely cleared by 
Friday the 28th, was filled with combustible 
matter of the neighbouring huts, and set on fire 
that evening, and it burnt with great fierceness 
all that night. On the 29th, in the morning, 
the brass cannon being embarked, which were 
eleven guns and eleven patereroes, and a good 
part of the garrison, the mines were sprung 
under the lower bastion, which entirely de- 
molished it. Then two mines were sprung to 
blow up some of the upper parts of the works, 
and afterwards all the inner buildings of the 
castle were set on fire, and were burning all the 
night of the 29th. On the 30th, Vice-Admiral 
Yernon put to sea with his squadron, and on the 
1st of April, in the evening, got to the mouth 
of the harbour of Porto Bello, and was joined 
there by the Windsor and Gh*eenivich, just re- 
turned from their cruise off Carthagena ; and on 
the 3rd, was joined also by the Burfor J, which 
he had left at Jamaica to be repaired. 



ADMIEAL YEBKOff. 37 

Articles of Capitulation granted by Edward 
Vernon, Esq., Vice- Admiral of the Blue, and 
Commander-in-Chief of his Britannic Majesty's 
Ships and Vessels in the West Indies, to Don 
Juan Carlos Gutures de Zavollos, Captain 
of Eoot and Castellano of the Castle of St. 
Lorenzo, at the mouth of the Eiver Chagre. 

"1st. That upon his Britannic Majesty's 
troops being put into immediate possession 
of the Eort St. Lorenzo, at the mouth of the 
river Chagre, the said Castellano and all his 
garrison be at free liberty to march out with- 
out any molestation, and may retire into the 
village of Chagre, or where else they please. 

" 2nd. That the inhabitants of Chagre may re- 
main in safety in their own houses, under a 
promise of security to their persons and 
houses. 

"3rd. That the Guarda Costa sloops be de- 
livered up to the use of his Britannic 
Majesty in the condition they are, and the 
King of Spain's Custom-house. 

"4th. That the Clergy and Churches in the 
town of Chagre shall be protected and pre- 
served in all their immunities. 

u Given under my hand, on board his Britannic 



38 MEMOBIAL OF 

Majesty's ship, the Strafford, at anchor before 
the river Chagre, this 24th of March, 1740. 

"E. Vebnon." 

Vice-Admiral Yernon then returned to Ja- 
maica, where he arrived early in April, 1740. 
He complained bitterly of being left without 
orders and without supplies from England — 
for want of which he cannot keep at sea — 
and that the rigging sent him was good for 
nothing but a Spithead expedition. He also 
remonstrated against the new model of the 
King's ships, which gives them too much mast 
and sails. "For," says he, "I think, when 
" going upon a wind, you press a ship so down 
" in the water, as to bring an unnatural body 
" for her to draw through the water ; it cannot 
" be expected she should force that body so 
" quick through the water, as if she went in a 
" more upright and natural position ; and that 
" therefore, in respect to going upon a wind, it 
" is better a ship should be undermasted than 
" over ; and as to going large and in light winds, 
" I apprehend a great cloud of canvas would be 
" better supplied in very large small sails, than 
" by very square yards to be spreading a large 
" clue of heavy canvas, whose very weight in 



ADMIRAL YERN'OK. 39 

" light winds forces the wind out of the sail, 
" &c. I think, also, that it would be a great 
u preservation to masts and rigging, to have the 
" yards fixed with flying parrels, because this 
"would preserve the rigging from being racked 
" to pieces by tracing back the yards, and give 
" opportunity for striking a top-mast with the 
" low sails standing, and contribute to a ship's 
" sailing by not being too much bound/' And 
he attributes the disasters met with in the stormy 
weather on his way from Porto Bello, to his being 
overmasted, and being sent to sea with the old 
guard-ship rigging overhead. He charges the 
officers of the yards ordered to load stores for 
the ships on service, with sending to him old 
lumber out of the yards. "With regard to man- 
ning the navy, he suggested that men should be 
enlisted for a time certain, and faith hejpt with 
them. 

The success of Admiral Yernon was gall and 
wormwood to Ministers at home ; not a gun was 
fired in honour of the victories ; and it was soon 
whispered about that the Admiral had exceeded 
his orders, some even attempted to undervalue 
the advantages gained, and to treat the affair 
with ridicule. In fact, everything was done by 
the ministerial party to endeavour to rob Ad- 



40 MEMOEIAL OF 

miral Vernon of the merit of the victory and 
the gallantry which characterized it. 

But the light in which his services were 
looked upon by the public generally, may be 
gathered from many biographers who have 
written in his favour, from the number of medals 
struck in his honour (above 130 of different dies 
being now in the British Museum), and also 
from the publication of his portrait in folio, 
headed " England's Glory," and under which, 
after an allusion to his rank and services, are 
the following lines : — 

%i Immortal honours, Vernon ! wait thy name, 
And every grateful Briton speaks thy fame; 
At home, the patriot, firmly just and good, 
You in your country's cause have always stood. 
Nor less abroad, when on the western main, 
You reign the terror of insulting Spain ; 
How much the triumphs of the war you share, 
Let Porto Bello and Chagre declare." 

The following little poem was also published 

in 1739 :— 

" He has Kept his "Woed." A Poem to perpetuate the 
Memory of that Glorious Action of the Brave Admiral 
Vernon, who, with six ships only, took Porto Bello. 

When Britain's Lion, lulled supinely lay, 
And in pacific sloth kept fame away ; 
While depredations, by the Spaniards made, 
Most insolently injured Albion's trade: 



ADMIEAL VEENOtf. 41 

By trifling, and by long harangues and jars, 

By warlike peaces, and by peaceful wars, 

Our merchants suffered, and did long complain, 

Their commerce ruined, still they sighed in vain ; 

By vile conventions, and the wiles of courts, 

Reduced to clamour out their last efforts, 

'Till waked by wrong, Britannia's genius rose, 

Resolved to curb her bold audacious foes: 

To stop proud Rapine's proud felonious course, 

Our gracious Monarch sends a naval force; 

His awful navy wild ambition checks, 

And bears chastizing vengeance on her decks; 

Those dreadful bulwarks wear great George's cause, 

Of Honour, Justice, Property, and Laws. 

Methinks I see each gallant warlike boat, 

Ride on the waves and triumph as they float, 

All uncontrolled they triumph o'er the main, 

Nor heed the puny rage of haughty Spain ; 

Their pirate Guard Ships, (authors of our jars) 

Sculk and abscond when Britain's Flag appears. 

Their Port of War ( vain, pompous, empty name) 

At once surrendered when brave Vernon came : 

The British ships, who ne'er to Spaniards stoop, 

Displayed the Cross on every hostile poop : 

Sage Brown serene attacks their Iron fort, 

In George's floating Palace, Hampton Court ; 

He draws his sabre, bids his cannons roar 

Nor were the native Indians frightened more, 

When cruel Spaniards first approached their 

Each ship succeeds as in the line they run, 

And all their hostile fury soon was done. 

Amazed, they saw Britannia's dreadful fire, 

And all confused in horrid haste retire : 

The frightened town, all passive begs a truce, 

And yields its treasure to the Victor's use. 



■ shore, J 



42 MEMORIAL OF 

Eaptured my artless muse is bid to say, 
That British spirits still with Britons stay : 
Nor will their wonted courage ever cease 
Till they've obtained an honourable peace : 
Let Philip's haughty Queen, no more in vain 
Dare to provoke the ruler of the main; 
To the remotest shores his power he sends 
To thunder on his foes and guard his friends. 

The 12th November, 1740, being the brave 
Admiral's birthday, was distinguished in a 
very extraordinary manner, by ringing of bells, 
and public dining in many places, &c, and in 
the evening the greatest rejoicings, bonfires, and 
illuminations in London, that had been known 
for many years. Don Bias de Leyo was burnt 
in eSigy in many places ; and at Chancery Lane 
end was a pageant, where was depicted Admiral 
Vernon, and a Spaniard on his knees offering 
him his sword ; a view of Porto Bello, and the 
ships and warlike implements ; over the Admi- 
ral's head was wrote, Yenit, vidit. vicit, and 
under him, Vernon semper viret. The day was 
celebrated also in most of the chief places in the 
kingdom, as also in Ireland ; as was likewise 
the 1st of November in the borough of South- 
wark, and other places ; there being then some 
uncertainty whether that or the 12th was the 
anniversary of the birth of that great man. 



ADMIKAL YEBNOK. 43 

The 22nd also, being the day he took Porto 
Bello, was celebrated with great rejoicings. — 
{London Magazine, 1740, p. 558.) 

It soon became so evident that the Govern- 
ment were averse to prosecuting the war with 
any vigour, that on the 1st December, 1740, 
Lord Bathurst brought forward a motion in the 
House of Lords to compel Ministers to produce 
their orders and instructions given to Admiral 
Vernon ; this, however, was rejected by 22, (the 
numbers being, "for 35," "against 57.") Lord 
Bathurst then brought forward another motion, 
for the production of all letters sent to and re- 
ceived from Admiral Vernon to be laid before 
that House, which the Ministers, with a few re- 
straining words, were obliged to agree to. These 
seemed to bear out the view taken by the oppo- 
sition, and the feeling became so strong that the 
Ministers were not in earnest in prosecuting the 
war, that a motion was made in the Lords, on 
the 13th February, 1741, praying his Majesty 
to dismiss Sir Robert Walpole ; this was lost by 
59 to 108. But Sir Eobert "Walpole never re- 
covered his popularity ; and the following year, 
11th February, 1742, he resigned his appoint- 
ment, and was raised to the Peerage, (as Lord 
Orford). Sir Eobert "Walpole attributed his 
fall to Admiral Vernon's successes. 



44 MEMORIAL OF 

In the debates in the House of Lords, Lord 
Chesterfield spoke of Admiral Vernon as having 
done with six ships, about 2,000 sailors, and 200 
tattered soldiers from Jamaica, what the Mini- 
ster had declared could not be done by a large 
squadron and at least 8,000 seamen ; and said, 
" When war was resolved on, Admiral Vernon 
" was called on from ploughing the ground to 
" plough the main, and as the service required 
" dispatch he required but three days to settle 
" his family affairs. 

" In peace time he was never employed. He 
" was even disappointed in his preferment. The 
" reason was plain, he was not fitted for those 
" services which entitle our land and sea captains 
" to preferment in time of peace, for he was 
" generally in the opposition in the House of 
" Commons." 

The following epigrams on Admiral Vernon's 
success in America appeared at that time : — 

To humble Spain, three naval heroes born, 

Drake, Raleigh, Vernon, Britain's isle adorn; 

The first in courage and success surpast, 

The next in well planned schemes ; in both the last. 

Drake had all honour valour could obtaiu, 

But Raleigh fell a sacrifice to Spain; 

With happier fate we see our Vernon rise, 

As Drake courageous, and as Raleigh wise: 



ADMIEAL VEENOtf. 45 

The hero's and the patriot's worth to shew, 
Heaven made the third, and joined the former two. 

London Magazine, 1741, p. 251. 

To Churchill, Mars' dominion o'er the land, 
To Bussell, Neptune gave the sea's command; 
Nature had done, she could no farther go, 
But in a Vernon joined the former two. 

Jac. Upton, A.M., Col. Wadh. 

Ver non florescit semper, sed magnus uhique 
Vernon florescit, floreat usque precor. 

On the 5th September, 1740, Vice- Admiral 
Vernon was joined at Jamaica by a squadron of 
store ships from England, under convoy of his 
Majesty's ships Defiance and Tilbury, and on 
the 3rd October, the Vice- Admiral sailed from 
Port Royal with part of his squadron, on a 
cruise off the coast of Hispaniola. 

On the 19th October he was joined by eight 
sail of transport ships, under the convoy of his 
Majesty's ship Wolf, with land forces from 
North America, whence more transports, with 
the rest of the land forces raised there, were 
daily expected. On the 20th October, the Ad- 
miral prepared to return to Jamaica; in this 
cruise Capt. Long, of the Tilbury, took a Spanish 
brigantine. 

On the 9th January, 1741, Sir Chaloner Ogle 
arrived in Port Royal harbour with the squadron 



46 MEMOBIAL OF 

under his command, and all the transports and 
store ships. 

On the 25th February, 1741, Vice-Admiral 
Vernon, having now the command of thirty sail 
of the line, sailed (from Irish Bay, Hispaniola), 
with the squadron and transports under his com- 
mand, being in all 124 sail, with 8,000 troops 
on board ; and on the 4th March, in the evening, 
they anchored in Plaza Grande, to windward of 
the town of Carthagena. 

The following is the official account of the 
attack : — " On the 9th March, Sir Chaloner 
Ogle (who was appointed to command the 
attack on the forts and batteries on Terra 
Bomba), moved forward with his division ; 
and Vice- Admiral Vernon weighed and moved 
after him with his division, and all the trans- 
ports, leaving Mr. Lestock at anchor behind. 
The small fort of Chamba fired a few guns, but 
was deserted as soon as the ship posted there 
opened her fire. 

At the Fascine battery, erected between that 
and the forts of St. Jago and St. Philip, the 
enemy had not had time to get any guns mounted, 
so there was no fire from thence; and the Xor- 
folJc, Russell, and Shrewsbury, being anchored 
very close under the said forts, made so warm a 



ADMIRAL YERNOK. 47 

fire, that in less than an hour, they drove the 
enemy out of them, and the same evening our 
grenadiers made a descent under the walls of 
those forts and took possession of them. 

On the 10th March, the two regiments of 
Harrison and "Wentworth, and the six regiments 
of marines, landed without opposition. 

On the 11th, the tents and tools were landed, 
the ground cleared, and an encampment formed. 
All the artillery and ordnance stores were 
brought ashore by the 15th. 

The Admiral, having notice from Brigadier 
Wentworth that his men were much galled by 
the fire of the Fascine battery, from the opposite 
side of the harbour, called the Barradera side, 
sent boats with a number of men. The boats 
commanded by Captain "Watson, of the Admi- 
ral's own ship, with the Captains Norris and 
Colby under him; and the men, when landed, 
were to be commanded by Captain Boscawen, 
having under him the Captains Laws and Cotes. 
They landed about a mile to the leeward of 
the Fascine battery, which , was of fifteen 
24-pounders. They happened to land under a 
small battery of five guns, which they knew 
nothing of; but they leaped resolutely into the 
battery and surprised the enemy, so as to receive 



48 MEMORIAL OF 

but little damage, and secured those cannon. 
This gave an alarm to the enemy at the other, 
who had time to point two of their guns against 
us, but with little effect ; and our men rushing 
on boldly, made themselves masters of that as 
well as of the smaller battery, and kept posses- 
sion of them all till they had spiked up all their 
guns, tore up and burnt their platforms, with 
the carriages, and brought off six wounded 
prisoners, with an inconsiderable loss on our 
side ; which success was a great relief to our 
troops on the other shore. 

Brigadier Wentworth had caused a battery of 
mortars to be raised, which much incommoded 
the enemy in the castle of Bocca Chica, and on 
the 22nd of March a battery of 24-pounders 
began to play upon the castle. The enemy had 
in the mean time been diligently at work on the 
first-mentioned Fascine battery, had got two 
guns mounted to play from thence, and were 
working to add more ; upon which the Admiral 
ordered a ship close under the shore to rake 
that battery. 

On the 23rd Commodore Lestock in the Boyne, 
with the Prince Frederick, Hampton Court, 
Suffolk, and Tilbury, went in to batter the said 
castle and the enemy's ships ; but the Boyne, 



ADMIRAL YERNON. 49 

falling to leeward, and being open to much of 
the enemy's fire, was called off that evening; 
the rest continued there ; and the Princess 
Amelia, that was fallen further to leeward than 
was intended, lay fair to silence the new mounted 
guns on the Fascine battery, and did so accord- 
ingly, which was a great preservative to the men 
playing our battery ashore, and in the camp, as 
the enemy's shot went over the hill into the camp. 

On the 24th, our ships renewed their fire, 
but the Prince Frederick and Hampton Court, 
being much galled by the shot from the enemy's 
ships, were called off, on which station his Ma- 
jesty lost a brave officer, in Lord Aubrey Beau- 
clerc, commander of the Prince Frederick, who 
w r ould have been an honour to his family and his 
country, being of a sedate as well as resolute 
temper. 

About noon, the Admiral sent all his boats 
again to the attack of the Fascine battery, 
where the enemy had mounted six guns ; but 
our men who landed from the boats having time 
and daylight for it, destroyed the guns, broke 
up the platforms, set every thing on fire, and 
drew some of our boats over a neck of land, and 
boarded and burnt a sloop that lay there to 
supply the battery with ammunition. 

D 



50 MEMORIAL OF 

A tolerable breach having been made in 
Bocca Chica, Brigadier "Wentworth came off on 
the 25th to give the Admiral an account of his 
intentions to assault the breach an hour before 
night. Upon which the Admiral made the 
signal for the boats again, and sent them in to 
make a seasonable diversion under the chief 
command of his engineer, Captain Knowles, who 
carried with him some Coehorn mortars and pa- 
tareroes, which it was judged might be used 
against St. Joseph's fort. Captain Knowles 
had with him the Captains Watson, Cotes, 
Dennis, Cleland, and Broderick. They got to 
the Fascine battery and landed, and drew their 
men together before the time of our marching 
to the attack of the Bocca Chica castle, which 
must have contributed to throw the enemy into 
some confusion. Our grenadiers, at the time 
Brigadier Wentworth had appointed, moved in 
very good order to the assault, expecting a vi- 
gorous resistance ; but to his great surprise, as 
soon as the grenadiers began to mount the 
breach, the enemy fled out of the castle without 
firing one musket shot. Immediately after this 
the enemy began to set fire to one of their ships, 
whereupon our men, observing the consternation 
they were in, resolved to row in their boats 



ADMIKAL VEttNON. 51 

close under the lee shore, and storm St. Joseph's 
fort from their boats, which they did accord- 
ingly, and found only three drunken Spaniards 
there. Flushed with this success, and finding 
the enemy were upon sinking their other ships, 
they rowed up to those ships, as they were now 
got within the boom, and boarded the Admiral 
Don Bias' own ship, the Galicia, in which they 
took prisoners the captain of the ship, the cap- 
tain of the marines, an ensign and 60 men, who 
not having had boats to escape in, had delayed 
sinking of the ship till they could have got off. 
This done, our men went and cut the boom to 
make all clear for us the next day, leaving 
officers and men on board the Galicia (where they 
had found both flag and colours flying), and an 
officer in St. Joseph's fort. 

On the 26th, the Admiral hastened into the 
harbour to make proper dispositions, but though 
he had nothing to do but to get in, he found it 
a matter of difficulty, especially as the enemy 
had sunk the San Carlos and the Africa in the 
best of the channel, and the St. Philip, which they 
had burnt and blown up, was yet burning on the 
lee shore, so that the Admiral was above three 
hours warping through after he anchored in the 
Narrows, before he could get to sail up the 



52 MEM0E1AL OF 

harbour, which he did about two leagues the 
same evening. And our getting in now was the 
more providential, as we have had very blowy- 
weather ever since. The same evening, there 
got in with the Admiral the Burford and Oxford 
of his division. 

On the 27th, the Admiral gave orders to 
Captain Griffin in theBurford, with Lord Augus- 
tus Pitzroy in the Oxford, to advance as fast as 
the wind would let them, for posting themselves 
across the harbour, as near as they could, just 
without gun-shot of Castillo Grande, for cutting 
it off from all communication by water as soon 
as might be ; which they could move but slowly 
in, the wind blowing right down the harbour. 
The same day, the Worcester got up to the Ad- 
miral, who sent her to anchor close to a wharf, 
where there was a good crane, and a spring of 
water, which he thought necessary to secure for 
the service of the fleet. The Wei/mouth with 
Captain Knowles getting in the same afternoon, 
the Admiral sent him with the Cruiser sloop to 
destroy the enemy's batteries at Passo Cavallos, 
and to seize what hulks were there, which he 
executed on the 28th, having destroyed two 
batteries of eight guns on each side of the 
entrance to Passo Cavallos, and rendered those 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 53 

guns unserviceable by spiking them up, and 
knocking off their trunnions, and brought out 
four large hulks, that may be very useful to us 
for our second descent, and the watering our 
ships. 

Sir Chaloner Ogle got in with his ship, the 
27th at night, and the 28th worked up between 
the Admiral and his two advanced guards ; and 
the Bipon, Jersey, and Experiment soon after 
joined him. The Torbay and two fireships of the 
Admiral's division got up to him on the 30th, a? 
did the Chichester and two bomb-ketches on the 
evening of the same day. 

The enemy acted in a sort of despondency, 
sinking all their galleons and other ships across 
the mouth of their harbour, above Castillo 
Grande, except the Conquistador and Dragon, the 
two remaining men of war of the king of Spain, 
and a ship wearing French colours, in order en- 
tirely to block up the channel into the harbour. 

On the 30th, in the evening, the Admiral 
ordered his engineer, Captain Knowles, in the 
Weymouth, to discover what he could of the 
enemy. He, getting that night a little above 
the Admiral's advance guard, observed the enemy 
were very busy in moving about with thirteen 
launches, and the next morning he discovered 



54 MEMORIAL OF 

that they had sunk their two remaining men ot 
war, the Conquistador and Dragon, both of 60 
guns, and were removing things out of Castillo 
Grande, of which he immediately gave notice to 
Sir Chaloner Ogle, who lay between the Admiral 
and his advance guards, the Burford and Ox- 
ford, He ordered Captain Knowles to advance 
with his ship and fire on the castle, to see if they 
would return it, which he observing they did 
not, immediately made the signal for the boats, 
manned and armed, who rowed up directly to 
the castle, and took possession of it without 
opposition. The Admiral made Captain Knowles 
Governor of it, he being well qualified to make 
his remarks from it, how we may take our ad- 
vantages to push on still successfully. "We 
shall now be able to land our troops within a 
league of the town, which could not have been 
done nearer than three leagues without our be- 
ing masters of Castillo Grande. And now we 
are in full possession, we may truly say it was as 
narrow a channel, as difiicult of access, and as 
good a disposition made to defend it, as we can 
apprehend to be any where in the world. For 
the enemy had above 200 pieces of cannon from 
forts, batteries and ships, that lay all to play 
upon anything coming in within the compass of 
a mile round. 



ADMIRAL YEENON. 55 

The 1st April, the Admiral got to an anchor 
in his own ship, close by Castillo Grande; and is 
getting some of his ships at work to try to heave 
the masts out of the sunk ships, to make a chan- 
nel over those sunk in the deepest water, that 
his ships may get in to secure a safe descent for 
the army, under the fire of our guns ; it being 
resolved in a council of war to use all possible 
expedition to cut off the communication of the 
town on the land side, and to make a descent at 
the most convenient place nearest the town. 
Some of our officers were killed by the enemy's 
canuon, amongst them were Colonel Douglas, 
Colonel "Watson of the Train, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Sandford, Mr. Moor, the Chief Engineer, 
and Lieutenant Irwing, and about 400 men. 
Thus far everything had been most successful, 
and the account up to this date (1st April) was 
sent to England by Captain Laws (commander 
of the Spence sloop), who took home as a tro- 
phy Don Bias, the Spanish Admiral's flag, taken 
on board the Galicia. It is near forty feet 
long. Captain Laws arrived in England, 17th 
May, 1741. On this occasion, there w r ere all the 
public demonstrations of joy. The guns at the 
Tower, and from the shipping in the river were 
fired : the bells through the cities of London 



56 MEMORIAL OF 

and Westminster and the suburbs were rung, 
and at night were bonfires and illuminations ; 
these rejoicings were continued the next day, 
19th May, and spread themselves through Great 
Britain and Ireland. 

We now proceed to give an account of the 
second part of this attack, that upon the town 
of Carthagena itself. 

The 1st April, 1741, in the evening, the sail- 
ors by the Admiral's direction made a channel 
through the enemy's sunk wrecks, by which the 
bomb-ketches were got in, and two frigates to 
cover them, commanded by Captain Eentone, 
and Captain Eoderick, and by ten o'clock next 
morning (the 2nd) the bomb-ketches began to 
play upon the town. The same evening another 
channel was made through the wrecks to the 
eastward of the shoal that lay in the mouth of the 
harbour ; three of the fireships got through that 
channel, and were posted to cover the descent of 
the land forces at Texar de Gracias ; and they 
kept firing upon the enemy, wherever they saw 
them endeavouring to intrench themselves. On 
the 3rd, the Weymouth, Captain Ivnowles, got 
through the western channel, and the next 
night passed round the shoal at the eastern 
part of the harbour. The Cruise)" got in at the 



ADMIRAL YERNOtf. 57 

other channel on the evening of the 4th, and the 
Admiral posted them so round the eastern part 
of the harbour, that their fire scoured the country 
all round, and drove about one hundred of the 
enemy from a breast-work, at the upper end of 
the harbour ; and the Weymouth's guns scoured 
the country between that and St. Lazar, by 
which means we procured a secure descent to 
the land forces, who began to land by the 5th, 
by break of day. 

General Wentworth, with about 1500 men, 
advanced through a long narrow defile, where he 
had some few men hurt by single shot from the 
paths and openings into the wood. In coming 
out of the defile, the enemy, about 600 strong, 
were perceived to be advantageously posted to 
dispute the passage ; but the General imme- 
diately advanced upon them, received their fire 
without much loss, and forced them to retire 
with precipitation ; and without delay possessed 
himself of a convenient piece of ground for 
forming the camp, a small mile from the castle 
of St. Lazar. That evening and the day fol- 
lowing (the 6th April) the remainder of the 
eight regiments, and of Bland's, and Lord James 
Cavendish's, and two battalions of the Americans 
came on shore, making in the whole about 



58 MEMOEIAL OP 

4000 men ; but they were obliged to lie three 
nights upon their arms, for the want of tents 
and tools, which could not be landed with them. 
The troops growing sickly and the rainy season 
approaching, which would not admit of the time 
necessary for raising a cannon battery, it was 
resolved in a council of war, to attack St. Lazar 
as soon as might be, the enemy being daily em- 
ployed throwing up new works ; which attack 
could not be made before the 9th ; when about 
1200 men, under the command of Brigadier- 
General Guise, advanced to the fort a little be- 
fore break of ^day. They began the attack in 
two places. The grenadiers who were the most ad- 
vanced immediately entered the enemy's works ; 
but the most forward of them were almost all 
killed; and fresh numbers pouring in upon 
them from the town, and the enemy playing 
very briskly upon them with grape shot, the 
General was obliged to order a retreat, to cover 
which he directed a reserve of 500 men to ad- 
vance: by which means they retired without 
further loss, and carried off a great part of the 
wounded men. In this attack, above six hun- 
dred men and officers were killed and wounded. 
At the same time, sickness fell so heavily upon 
the troops, that near 500 men sickened or died 



ADMIEAL YEHNOK. 59 

by the 15th, amongst the former were almost all 
the principal officers. Upon which, the General 
called a council of war, to whom it appeared 
that the troops were so far from being in a con- 
dition to offend the enemy, that they had 
scarcely duty men sufficient for the ordinary 
guards of the camp, and many of them in a very 
languishing condition. Besides which, they were 
threatened with the want of water, all the cis- 
terns from which the camp had been supplied 
being nearly exhausted. In consequence of 
which, it was resolved in a general council of 
war, composed of sea and land officers, to re- 
imbark the troops, which was done on the 16th 
in the evening, without any loss. 

The Spanish Admiral's ship Galicia, had 
been got up to Castillo Grande on the 8th, and 
the Admiral sent sixty carpenters on board her, to 
fit her as a battery against the town. On the 15th, 
at night, she was completed, and posted as near 
the walls of the town as possible, anchors having 
been dropped for that purpose in as shoal water 
as the boats could float in ; but the shoalings 
from the town ran too far off for any effectual 
service. She kept firing upon the town from five 
in the morning till near twelve at noon, and 
stood the fire of three bastions, a half-moon, and 



60 MEMORIAL OF 

& ravelin during the whole time ; but as the Ad- 
miral saw she could do no material service 
against stone walls at that distance, he sent 
orders to Captain Hore, who commanded her, 
to cut and drive before the sea breeze, broadside 
to the enemy, as soon as the breeze was strong 
enough, which was not till near twelve, when 
she kept driving broadside on, continuing their 
fire till they drove ashore on the shoal, where she 
soon filled with water, having twenty-two shot 
holes between wind and water, and would soon 
have foundered at her anchors if the Admiral 
had not ordered her off. Our shells from the 
bomb-ketches damaged many of the houses and 
some of the churches. The houses were also 
pretty much shattered by the cannonading from 
the Galicia, though she was not near enough to 
batter the walls. 

The sea officers and sailors have been em- 
ployed in getting out the masts from some of 
the sunk Spanish ships, in which they succeeded 
so as to have supplied with good low masts, all 
those ships which have been shattered and 
rendered unserviceable in the cannonading of 
Bocca Chica castle ; and they got anchors and 
some cables out of those wrecks, to repair the 
loss of many in the road, where we had lain out- 



ADMIRAL VEBNOtf. 61 

side the harbour ; so that by these seasonable 
helps, the fleet will have been pretty well re- 
paired, and the ships in good secure condition 
for proceeding to sea again. General councils of 
war were held on the 23rd and 24th April, the 
resolutions of which were for returning to 
Jamaica. 

Under the direction of Captain Knowles, the 
entire demolition of Castillo Grande was com- 
pleted on the 25th, which took up the more 
time from the great thickness of the walls 
and the strength of the current ; but it is effec- 
tually demolished at last, and the fifty-nine 
pieces of ordnance in it rendered unserviceable, 
by spiking them up and knocking off the trun- 
nions. Captain Boscawen has the care of the 
same work at Bocca Chica, and proceeds in it very 
successfully. The harbour having so narrow an 
entrance, it was thought that it would take some 
time to get all the ships out, and put to sea. 

Upon the whole, on this expedition, Admiral 
Vernon took or sunk the following men-of-war, 
viz. — The G-alicia, 70, The San Carlos, 70, 
The Africa, 70, The St. Philip, 70, The Con- 
quistador, 70, The Dragon, 60 ; besides seven 
galleons. 

He also demolished the following Forts : The 



62 MEMORIAL OE 

Bocca Chica of 80 guns ; Port St. Joseph, 20 
guns ; Fort St. Philip, 15 guns ; Port St. Jago, 
6 guns ; the Pascine batteries, with 20 guns; 
two batteries at Passa Cavallos, of 13 guns ; 
the Castillo Grande, 63 guns, and Port Man- 
zinello, 12 guns ; besides fifty smaller ships. The 
loss to the Spaniards was computed at about 
800,000 pounds sterling. 

Officers killed in the attack. 
Colonel Grant, Lieut. -Colonel Thompson. 
Captains Eobinson, Adair, Birkett. 
First Lieuts. Hughes, Prideaux, Medlicott. 
Second Lieut. Smith. 

Died. 

Colonel Moreton, Lieut.- Colonel Blagrave; 
Major Dawson. 

Captains Whiteford, Dennett, Sharpless, John- 
stone, Noyer, Ingoldsby, Corbett, Harris, Bald- 
win, Ouchterlony, Kynaston. 

First Lieutenants Gregson, "Walker, Morris, 
Whitewell, Jones, Tennison, Brodie, Majori- 
banks. 

Second Lieutenants Cathcart, and Cathcart. 

Dr. Martin, first Physician. 

It is said there were killed, and died of sick- 
ness, of the private men near 1500 ) that there 



ADMIRAL YEKFrOtf. 63 

reimbarked 5000 men, of which 1451 were sick 
and 267 wounded. 

On the 2nd May, Captain Davers, commander 
of his Majesty's ship Suffolk, with five men-of- 
war and a tender, got out of the harbour of 
Carthagena, and proceeded to cruise off St, 
Martha for twenty days, and then to proceed 
to Port Boyal, Jamaica. 

And on the 6th May, 1741, the entire demo- 
lition of all the forts and castles of the harbour 
of Carthagena having been completed, and the 
greatest part of the men-of-war, and the trans- 
ports with the land forces on board, being got 
out to sea, the Admiral sailed for Jamaica. On 
the 7th, he was joined off Point Canoa, by Sir 
Chaloner Ogle with 14 sail, and on the 9th had 
the whole squadron with him except the Boyne, 
the Bivrford, and the Prince Frederick, the two 
latter of which afterwards joined him at sea, 
the Boyne having proceeded directly for Jamaica. 
On the 19th May, the squadron arrived in Port 
Eoyal harbour, where the Admiral found a con- 
voy, victuallers and storeships from England 
safely arrived before him. He found there also 
his Majesty's ship Squirrel (Captain "Warren), 
who had destroyed a large Spanish privateer 
sloop on the south part of Cuba. On the 24th, 



64 MEMOEIAL OF 

after a few days' illness at Jamaica, died Lord 
Augustus Fitzroy, commander of his Majesty's 
ship Oxford, much regretted for his bravery and 
diligence in the service. 

Vice- Admiral Vernon and Brigadier "Went- 
worth immediately re-organised their forces, in 
order to proceed again to sea with all possible 
expedition. 

The following letter from Admiral Vernon, 
dated 25th April, 1741, (from on board the 
Princess Caroline, riding off Castillo Grande, 
harbour of Carthagena,) written the day after the 
council of war had decided to return to Jamaica, 
shews his feeling about the failure. 

" Prom my last to you in the harbour in the 
" beginning of the month, I was in hopes to have 
" been able to have given you a better account 
" of our conclusion here. I thank God, I can say, 
" as far as depended on the sea to do, or was 
" practicable that way, I carried it to the best 
" end, having entirely destroyed all the shipping, 
" and shall leave all their forts that guarded 
" their harbour entirely demolished ; and I took 
" care to secure by my ships a safe landing for 
" the army as near Carthagena as they could 
u desire, without their having so much as a 
" single musket shot fired at them ; and to land 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 65 

" all their artillery, and whatever they desired 
" afterwards. And when they had stayed as long 
<c as they cared for, I took the same care of their 
" re-imbarkation, without their having a musket 
" shot fired at them, by having my ships well 
" posted to cover them. And as army proceed- 
" ings are no part of my province, I choose to 
" leave that to their own relation. Sickness and 
"want of water were the principal reasons 
" alleged for their thinking it impracticable for 
" them to proceed further, and it is certain the 
" sickness is become very general amongst the 
" forces since their re-imbarkation. We are 
"preparing to return to Jamaica with all possi- 
" ble expedition, that so large a train will admit 
tc of, that will require time to get them out of a 
" harbour of so narrow an entrance. As there 
" will be a necessity for the greatest part of my 
" fleet going hence this summer, I am in hopes 
" of soon receiving orders to come home with 
" them myself, which I should be much pleased 
" with, being heartily sick of conjunct expeditions 
" with the army. Through God's great mercy, 
" I continue to enjoy a good state of health, to 
" enable me to go through the burdensome fa- 
" tigues of this command, which hardly allows 
" me time to think of anything else. My last 

E 



66 MEMORIAL OF 

" public letters were of the 5th December. I 
" hope to hear you are all well upon my return 
"to Jamaica, and that it will please God to give 
"us a happy meeting this winter/'* 

In allusion to the disease which seized both 
soldiers and sailors in this expedition, the poet 
Thomson, the author of the " Seasons," in one 
of the most pathetic and beautiful passages in 
his " Summer," thus honourably immortalizes 
Admiral Vernon. After speaking of pestilen- 
tial disease as one of the effects of a particular 
phase of the summer season, he continues : 

" Such as of late at Carthagena quenched 
The British fire. You, gallant Vernon, saw 
The miserable scene: you, pitying, saw 
To infant weakness sunk the warrior's arms ; 
Saw the deep racking pang, the ghastly form, 
The lip pale-quivering, and the beamless eye 
No more with ardour bright; you heard the groans 
Of agonizing ships, from shore to shore ; 
Heard, nightly plunged amid the sullen waves 
The frequent corse ; while on each other fixed 
In sad presage, the black assistants seem'd 
♦Silent, to ask whom fate would next command." 

Souse of Commons Journals. 
On Wednesday, 9th December, 1741. 
Mr. Speaker acquainted the House that in 

* A detailed account of the attack on Carthagena may be 
found in Smollett's " Roderick Eandoni." 



ADMIRAL YEEKON. 67 

obedience to the commands of the House of 
Commons in the last session of Parliament, he 
had transmitted to Vice-Admiral Vernon their 
thanks for the services he had done to his King 
and country in the West Indies. That some- 
time the last summer, after the dissolution of 
Parliament, a letter was brought to him by James 
Vernon, Esq., brother of the said Admiral, which 
Mr. Vernon said he had received from the said 
Admiral, and which Mr. Speaker said being 
directed to him in his private capacity, he opened ; 
and that it contained an answer from Vice- Ad- 
miral Vernon to the said thanks of the House 
of Commons, as followeth : 

" Sir, — The singular honour done me in being 
" thought deserving of the unanimous thanks of 
" the House of Commons, for my endeavours to 
" discharge my duty to his Majesty in these seas, 
" is what I can't find words sufficient to express 
" my grateful sense of; but I shall ever retain a 
"just acknowledgment of the great honour done 
" me by the House, in their approbation of my 
" services to his Majesty and my country, and 
" thinking them deserving of their notice in this 
" public manner. 

" As the public approbation of so august an 
" assembly, is the highest honour a subject can 



68 MEMOBIAL OF 

u receive, I must beg the favour of you, Sir, to 
" assure the House, that a grateful sense of it 
" will never be effaced out of my memory ; and 
16 that I shall endeavour, in all my future conduct, 
" by a continued diligence and faithful discharge 
" of my duty to his Majesty in the execution of 
" his orders, for the honour of the Crown, and 
" service of my country, to study to preserve 
*f the continuance of their esteem. 

" I am, Sir, 
" Your most obedient and most humble servant, 

"E. Ver>-o>V 

Admiral Vernon, on his arrival in Jamaica, on 
19th May, 1741, received orders from England 
to retain in the West Indies no more ships than 
were absolutely necessary, he therefore sent home 
Commodore Lestock with 11 line of battle ships 
and 5 frigates. The remainder of the fleet were 
deemed quite sufficient ; there being at this time 
but one Spanish squadron at the Havana, and a 
small Erench fleet at Hispaniola. It is very 
certain that the Admiral was so exceedingly 
dissatisfied with his colleague, General "Went- 
worth, that he ardently desired to return to 
England ; but the letters he received from the 
Duke of Newcastle were so extremely flattering, 



ADMIRAL VERNON". 69 

that he consented to remain on the station. On 
the 26th May, 1741, he called a council of war, 
the members of which were himself, Sir Chaloner 
Ogle, General Wentworth, General Guise, and 
Governor Trelawny. The four first were of 
opinion that it was advisable to attack the 
island of Cuba, and the Governor at length ac- 
quiesced. 

This armament, which sailed from Jamaica on 
the 1st of July, consisted of 8 ships of the line, one 
of 50 guns, 12 frigates, &c, and about 40 trans- 
ports ; on board of which, including 1000 blacks, 
were near 4000 land forces. The fleet came to 
anchor on the 18th in Walthenham harbour. 
On the 20fch of July, it was determined to land 
the troops at once, and take the city of St. Jago 
by surprise. The troops were accordingly dis- 
imbarked, and meeting with no opposition, 
marched some miles up the country and en- 
camped on the banks of the river. Meanwhile 
Admiral Vernon dispatched part of his fleet to 
block up the port of St. Jago, and to watch the 
motions of the Spanish Admiral at the Havana, 
expecting with the utmost impatience the pro- 
gress of the army. But on the 5th of October, he 
had the mortification to receive a letter from 
General Wentworth, expressing his doubts of 



70 MEMOEIAL OF 

being able either to advance further, or even to 
subsist his army much longer in the part of the 
island which they then possessed. 

On the 9th of October, the General called a 
council of war, the members of which were 
unanimous that it was impossible to march far- 
ther into the country, without exposing the 
troops to certain ruin. 

The army nevertheless continued idle in its 
encampment till the 7th November, 17-11, when 
another council of war, consisting of the land 
officers only, resolved that the troops ought to be 
re-imbarked with all possible expedition : and 
they were accordingly put on board their tran- 
sports on the 20th November, without the least 
molestation from the enemy. Thus ended the 
conquest of the Isle of Cuba, the inhabitants of 
which were, from the incomprehensible conduct 
of the British troops, at last persuaded that 
they landed without any hostile intentions. On 
the 25th November, it was resolved in a general 
council of war, that the General with the troops 
under him, should return to Jamaica, and that 
the fleet should continue to cruise oh° Hispaniola, 
in search of expected reinforcements from Eng- 
land. 

The transports sailed on the 2Sth, and the 



ADMIRAL YERNON. 71 

Admiral on the 6th December, with the remain- 
ing squadron, consisting of 8 ships of the line, a 
fire-ship, an hospital ship and two tenders. 

During the time the army was on shore, the 
fleet had not been inactive. The Worcester 
took a Spanish man-of-war gf 24 guns, the 
Defiance took a register ship laden with pro- 
visions, and the ShoreJiam took another vessel 
with 70,000 pieces of eight on board. 

On the 5th January, 1742, Admiral Vernon, 
not meeting with the convoy he expected, re- 
turned to Jamaica, where, on the 11th February, 
1742, Vice-Admiral Vernon, writes home to re- 
port that Captain Lawes, with the convoy and 
transports under his command, had arrived at 
Jamaica on the 15th January last ; that his Ma- 
jesty's forces which came with the same convoy 
being in good condition, and those before upon 
the island greatly recovered, that he, Admiral 
Vernon and Major- General "Wentworth, w T ere 
preparing for a new expedition against the 
Spaniards ; namely, to sail to Porto Bello, and 
then march across the Isthmus, and take 
Panama. 

This expedition sailed from Jamaica on the 
9th March, the troops and transports not being 
ready before, and arrived on the 28th at Porto 



72 MEMORIAL OP 

Bello, and a general council of war having been 
held on the 31st March, it was unanimously- 
agreed by the land officers, though protested 
against by the Admiral, that as the troops had 
been three weeks in the passage from Jamaica 
instead of eight (Jays, which is the usual time ; by 
reason of contrary winds, so that the rainy sea- 
son was then beginning ; and as several of the 
transports had been separated from the convoy 
at sea, and not yet arrived, and particularly the 
greater part of the negroes, it would be there- 
fore impracticable to undertake at present the 
expedition, which had been projected ; and it 
was accordingly resolved to return forthwith to 
Jamaica. Nothing of importance seems to 
have been undertaken during the summer, and 
on the 23rd September, 1742, his Majesty's ship 
Gibraltar j Captain Eowke, arrived at Jamaica 
from England, and in consequence of orders 
brought by him, both Yice-Admiral Vernon and 
Major-General "Wentwortk, made preparations 
to return to England, leaving Sir Chaloner 
Ogle in command of the fleet. 

The Board of Admiralty at this time, viz. from 
March 19, 1741, to 13th December, 1713, were, 

Daniel, Earl of Winchelsea, 

John Cockburne, Esq, 






ADMIRAL YERKOtf. 73 

Lord A. Hamilton, 
Lord Baltimore, 
Philip Cavendish, Esq. 
GL Lee, L.C.D. 
John Trevor, Esq. 

London Magazine, 1743. 

On the 6th January, 1743, Admiral Vernon 
landed at Bristol, where he was received with 
loud acclamations of the people, and other de- 
monstrations of joy. 

13th January. — Thirty chests of treasure 
from on board the JBoyne, were sent by waggons 
from Bristol for London, each chest containing 
10,000 pieces of eight, &c. the glorious trophies 
of Admiral Vernon's conquests. 

The same day, the said Admiral arrived at his 
house in Jermyn Street, St. James, from Bath, 
and soon after waited on his Majesty. 

20th January. — The freedom of the City of 
London was presented in a gold box to Admiral 
Vernon ; and on the 

24^, Admiral Vernon went to Gruildhall, 
and took the oath as a freeman of London, when 
he expressed his grateful sense of the honour the 
City had done him, and gave the Chamberlain 
£100 to be distributed among such poor freemen 
as he should think proper. 



74 MEMOEIAL OF 

In March, 3743, Vice-Admiral Vernon was 
admitted an Elder Brother of the Trinity-house ; 
and during this month, he took his seat in the 
House of Commons as member for Ipswich, where 
he soon became an active member on the opposi- 
tion side of the House. 

On the 16th of June, 1744, Vice- Admiral 
Vernon received a letter from Thomas Corbett, 
Esq. Secretary to the Admiralty, signifying that 
my Lords requested Admiral Ternon's opinion 
upon the present system of manning and arm- 
ing the Navy, and begging to know whether he 
would propose any alteration ; to which Vice- 
Admiral Vernon returned the following answer : 

" Nacton, 

"June 18, 1744. 

" Sir, 
"I have received your letter of the sixteenth, 
cc in which you are pleased to signify that it is 
" my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty's 
" desire, I should let them know my opinion, 
"whether the present complement of men 
" allowed to a ship of sixty-four guns, being 
" four hundred and eighty, and of three hun- 
" dred men to a fifty gun ship, be a proper pro- 
" portion of men agreeable to the number and 



ADMIEAL YERNCtf. 75 



(< 



weight of guns, as mentioned in your letter, 
" of thirty-two, eighteen, and nine for the 
"sixty-four, and twenty-four, twelve and six 
" for the fifty gun ships ; or what complement 
" of men I think necessary for ships of these 
" classes. 

" To which I must first observe, that I take 
" this case, as counsel would be apt to say to a 
" young attorney, not to be fully and clearly 
" stated for giving an opinion upon. 

" For we have many ships, that are called 
" sixty and fifty gun ships, that are built of very 
" different proportions and strength ; the one of 
" which could support batteries of large cannon, 
" which the others could not ; and some have 
" convenient stowage for large numbers of men, 
"and quantities of provision for them, which 
" the others are defective in. So that the 
"primary inquiry is to the roominess and 
" strength of the ship, to know what batteries 
" she can support, and then the numbers of men 
" requisite are the secondary consideration. 

" For in the eighty gun ship I was last in, the 
" Boyne, her lower battery was thirty-two 
" pounders, and the upper twelve and nine ; and 
"the apparent reason those upper batteries 
" were not heavier, was, that the beams were so 



76 MEMORIAL OF 

" slight that the decks could not bear a heavier 
" battery ; and therefore the ships you mention, 
" or such ships, would soon be crippled, if the 
" strength of the decks be not the first eonsider- 
" ation of what battery of guns it can support. 

" I remember the two finest ships of their rank 
"that ever I saw at sea, were the old Royal 
" Sovereign, and the old Royal Oak ; I think 
" both said to have been built by Mr. Fislier 
" Harding. They had fine batteries of guns ; 
" they were stiff ships that could tise them, 
" when any ship could carry out a lower battery, 
" good sailers, and good roadsters ; and I think 
(l I have heard the builder told his Majesty, 
" King Charles II., of the Royal Oak, that he 
" built a ship at once — meaning, I presume, of 
" sufficient strength and proper proportions, that 
" did not want cobling afterwards. It is certain 
" those complete ships were ships of great 
" strength and long duration, and that our mo- 
" dern ones are famous for neither; but, to the 
" great cost of the Crown, have been found emi- 
" nently defective in both. 

"If what we meet in the public papers be 
" true, of the French ships, Captain Watson was 
" detached out singly to chase, and by whom he 
" was taken after a gallant defence, against so 



ADMIEAL VERNON. 77 

" superior power : one of them is called sixty- 
" eight guns, and said to have had seven hundred 
" men, the other sixty-four guns, and six hundred 
" and fifty men. But if we had the opportunity 
" of knowing the dimensions of their sixty-four 
" gun ships, I doubt not they would be found 
%i of greater dimensions than those we call such 
" with us, and at least as big as our seventy 
" gun ships ; for they don't generally crowd their 
" ships with guns as we do ; in which I think 
" them much in the right, and that we cripple 
" our ships by it, without any real conveniency 
" arising from it. I have given it as my opinion 
" in private, as well as in public, that the arbitrary 
" power with which a half-experienced and half- 
" judicious surveyor of the navy hath been 
" entrusted, had in my opinion half ruined the 
"navy: and I am sure I am far from being 
" singular in that opinion ; for I have been asked 

* whether I thought the navy would have suffered 
" most by the loss of their battles against the 
" French, or from Ms measures, which I made a 

* moot case of ; but others have frankly said, 
" they should have declared their opinion against 

" Sir J h, to whom I have no personal en- 

" mity, nor any personal reasons for having it. 

" But as I think the basis and foundation of 



78 MEMORIAL OF 

" securing to this nation the blessings of the 
" Protestant succession and continuance of this 
"Eoyal Family upon the throne, principally 
" consist in the support and maintenance of 
" our naval power ; so I think the duty of an 
" officer, and a faithful and dutiful subject of my 
" Eoyal Master, calls upon me to avow my senti- 
" ments in this particular. 

" And I appeal to Lord "Winch elsea, whether 
" I did not mention to him my thoughts of what 
" might be a proper method for his serving his 
" Majesty effectually in that particular, which to 
" the best of my memory was this, viz. — That 
"the builders of the king's yards, and the most 
" eminent of the builders of the merchants' yards, 
44 should respectively draw a plan of proportions 
" for a ship of each rank, and draw up his rea- 
" sons in writing for the support of his own plan ; 
" and then to be summoned together before their 
" Lordships, that every one might be admitted to 
" support his own plan, and to give answers to 
"the objections each might have to make to 
" what was proposed by the other. By which I 
" thought a perfect plan might be formed, which 
" then should be given in orders to the Surveyor 
"to see duly executed, which I take to be the 
" proper business of a Surveyor. 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 79 

" Aud I fear his usurping the whole direction, 
" or having been permitted to do it, with his 
" too much pride and self-sufficiency to be capa- 
ble of being better informed, and too little 
" good sense or solid judgment for being capable 
" of directing all himself, has made ours a declin- 
"ing navy in the art of ship-building, at a time 
" when both France and Spain have been greatly 
" improved in it. I think these are matters that 
" require a timely and serious consideration ; 
u and in that view I joined with those, who were 
" for having such an enquiry entered upon, by a 
" select Committee of the House of Commons ; 
" where it might have been carefully enquired 
" into by the time, care, and application, that 
" such a thing would require, if it had not been 
"jockeyed off by those who dislike all enquiries ; 
" though they may be necessary when those 
" whose proper province it is, seem to think it 
" to be too much trouble for them. 

" I am sure I think it very highly for his Ma- 
" jesty's service, somebody should enquire into it 
" before it be too late ; as I apprehend our Eoyal 
" Master's true interest is most likely to be the 
"fatal sacrifice of not mating some such timely 
" enquiry. I thank God I have always served 
" the Crown faithfully and diligently in every 



80 MEMOETAL OF 

" post that has fallen to m y lot to be called upon 
" for the Crown's service ; as I hope I shall ever 
tc do with a steady fidelity becoming the duty of 
tc a faithful and loyal subject ; in which view I 
iC have given this as my answer to their Lord- 
" ships enquiry, and am, 
" Sir, 
" Tour most humble servant. 

" E. Vebhow." 

This letter seems to have given such offence 
to the Board of Admiralty, that upon the ]N"aval 
promotion, which came out on the 23rd June, 
1744, only five days afterwards, Vice- Admiral 
Vernon was passed over ; in fact his name seems 
to have been removed from the list of Admirals. 

The promotions were as follows : 

Nicholas Haddock, Esq. *) To be Admirals of 
Sir Chaloner Ogle, ) the Blue. 

James Steuart, Esq. ") To be Vice-Admi- 
Sir Charles Hardy, ) rals of the Eed. 

Thomas Davers, Esq. ) To be Vice- Admirals 
Hon. George Clinton, ] of the White. 

"William Eowley, Esq. \ To beVice- Admirals 
William Martin, Esq. j of the Blue. 

Isaac Townsend, Esq. To be Eear- Admiral 

of the Eed. 



ADMIRAL TEUTON. 81 

Henry Medley, Esq. To be Kear- Admiral of 

the White. 
George Anson, Esq, To be Eear- Admiral of 

the "White. 
Vice- Admiral Vernon was senior to Nicholas 
Haddock, and on being passed over or forgotten 
in this extraordinary manner, he wrote the fol- 
lowing letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty, 
to be laid before the Lords Commissioners, who 
at this time consisted of the following persons. 

Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, De- 
cember 1743 to December 1744. 
Daniel, Earl of Winchelsea, 
John Cockburne, Esq, 
Lord A. Hamilton, 
Lord Baltimore, 
Gh Lee, Esq. 
Sir Charles Hardy, Bart. 
John Philipson. 

"Nacton, 30th June, 1744. 

" To Thomas Corbett, Esq. Secretary of the 

Admiralty. 

"Sir, 

" As we that live retired in the country often 

" content ourselves with the information we de- 

" rive from the newspapers on a market day, I 

" did not so early observe the advertisement 



82 MEMOEIAL OF 

■< from your office of the 23rd of this month, 
" That in pursuance of his Majesty 's pleasure, 
" the Bight Honourable the Lords Commissioners 
" of the Admiralty, had made the folloiving pro- 
" motions therein mentioned. In which I could 
" not but observe there was no mention of my 
" name among the flag-officers, though by your 
"letter of the 16th inst. you directed to me as 
" Vice-Admiral of the Red, and (by their Lord- 
" ships' orders) desired my opinion on an affair 
" for his Majesty's service, which I very honestly 
" gave them, as I judged most conducive to his 
"honour; so that their Lordships could not be 
i( uninformed that I was in the land of the 
" living. 

" Though the promotions are said to be made 
" by their Lordships' orders, yet, we all know the 
" communication of his Majesty's pleasure must 
" come from the First Lord in the Commission ; 
" from whom principally his Majesty is sup- 
" posed to receive his information on which his 
" Eoyal orders are founded. And as it is a 
" known maxim of our law, that the King can 
" do no wrong, founded as I apprehend on the 
" persuasion that the Crown never does so, but 
" from the misinformation of those whose res- 
<fc pective provinces are to inform his Majesty of 



ADMrEAL YERN01S-. 83 

" the particular affairs under their care, the first 
" suggestion that naturally occurs to an officer, 
" that has the fullest testimony in his custody 
€t of having happily served his Majesty, in the 
" command he was intrusted with, to his Eoyal 
" approbation, is, that your First Commissioner 
" must either have informed his Majesty that I 
" was dead, or have laid something to my charge 
" rendering me unfit to rise in my rank in the 
" Eoyal navy ; of which, being insensible myself, 
" I desire their Lordships would be pleased to 
" inform me in what it consists, having both in 
" action and advice, always to the best of my 
"judgment, endeavoured to serve our Eoyal 
" Master with a zeal and activity becoming a 
" faithful and loyal subject, and having hitherto 
" received the approbation of your Board. I 
" confess at my time of life, a retirement from 
t: the hurry of business to prepare for the general 
" audit, which every Christian ought to have per- 
petually in his mind, is what cannot butbede- 
" sirable, and might rather give me occasion to 
" rejoice than any concern, which (I thank God) 
" it does very little ; yet, that I might not by any 
" be thought to be one that would decline the 
" public service, I have thought proper to remind 
" their Lordships I am living, and have (I thank 



84 MEMOBIAL OF 

" God) the same honest zeal reigning in my 
" breast, that has animated me on all occasions, 
u to approve myself a faithful and zealous sub- 
" ject and servant to my Royal Master ; and if 
a the First Lord Commissioner has represented 
" me in any other light to our Eoyal Master, he 
{{ has acted with a degeneracy unbecoming the 
" descendant from a noble father, whose me- 
" mory I reverence and esteem, though I have 
" no compliments to make to the judgment or 
(l conduct of the son." 

N.B. To this no answer was returned. 
But on the 25th December, 1744, there was 
a change of Ministers, and a new Board of Ad- 
miraltv, viz. 

John Duke of Bedford, 

Lord Sandwich, 

Lord Archibald Hamilton, 

Lord Vere Beauclerc, 

Lord Baltimore, 

Geo. Anson, Esq, 

Geo. Greville, Esq. 
This Board of Admiralty immediately re- 
placed Admiral Vernon's name on the navy list 
in its proper place, namely, before Nicholas 
Haddock, and in a list of flag-officers published 
by authority on the 24th April, 1745, they staud 
as follows : — 



Admirals of the Blue. 



ADMIRAL YEENOE". 85 

. ) Eear- Admiral of the Meet of 
Sir John Norns, J ^ Eed Divigion> 

Thos. Matthews j Admiralg f th ^^ 
Edw. Vernon ) 

Nicholas Haddock £ 
Sir C. Ogle, Bart. J 

John Stewart, Esq. } 

Thos. Davers > Vice- Admirals of the Eed. 

Hon. Gr. Clinton J 

ZSZttS }Ti-Admir.l»ofth,WWte. 

Et.Hon.LordVereBeauclerc,Eear-Ad.oftheEed. 
Greorge Anson Eear-Admiral of the "White. 

Perigrin Mayne Eear-Admiral of the Blue. 

Eichard Lestock, Vice- Admiral of the "White, 
under suspension to be tried by a Court-martial. 
He was acquitted in 1746, and shortly afterwards 
madeAdmiral of theBlue, and died in the Channel. 

In July,1745, there being great fear that an in- 
vasion was about to take place, Admiral Vernon 
was again called from retirement, and on the 6th 
of August hoisted his flag on board the St 
George, 90, at Portsmouth, and shortly afterwards 
sailed with a squadron to cruise in the Channel. 

It was at this time that the Admiral first 
ordered water to be mixed with the rum before 
it was issued to the sailors, who immediately 



86 MEMORIAL OP 

called it grog. The Admiral having long before 
been named by them ' Old Grog J from his wear- 
ing grogram breeches. 

On the 10th December, 1745, from his ship 
the Norwich, in the Downs, Admiral Yernon 
wrote the following seasonable letter to the 
Captains of three Dover privateers. 

" Brother Sailors, 

" Captain Gregory having reported the hearty 
honest zeal you have expressed for the service 
of his Majesty, and preservation of your coun- 
try from the threatened attempts of the inve- 
terate enemy to our laws, religion and liberty, 
which like honest true-hearted brother sailors 
you had roundly set about manifesting by your 
actions, the sincerity of your declarations, as your 
own judgment informs you of the present ne- 
cessity for it, and that we cannot be too nimble 
for being before-hand with them, as according 
to the old proverb, delays are dangerous ; I take 
the earliest opportunity to send by Captain 
Gregory my hearty thanks for the honest and 
laudable zeal you have expressed for the service 
of his Majesty and your country under my orders ; 
and to assure you that I will take care to do 
justice to the merits of every one's services, and 
that no endeavour of mine shall be wanting for 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 87 

procuring you a just, equitable, and prompt con- 
sideration for the merit of your willing service, 
that you confide in the honour and justice of the 
Crown for your being amply considered : for I 
am, brother officers, 

"Both yours and all our honest brother sailors' 
friend, and humble servant, 

(signed) " E. Veenon." 

On the 18th December, the Carlisle privateer 
of Dover sent in two more French transports 
bound from Eouen to Boulogne, and on the 19th 
December, two Dover privateers fell in with a 
fleet of transports off Dunkirk, bound as they 
supposed to Calais or Boulogne to take in troops. 
They were mostly fishing boats and small vessels, 
and about 60 sail of them ; about 17 of which 
the said privateers drove on shore near Calais. 
They bio wed up one laden with cannon, powder, 
and other warlike stores : sunk two and brought 
three away, two of which came into the pier at 
Dover, and the third was lost in the bay. They 
had all some warlike stores on board, such as 
small cannon, powder and ball, some horse 
collars and poles, about seven feet long, spiked 
with iron at both ends. 

On Friday, the 20th December, Admiral 
Vernon sent the following letter to John Norris, 
Esq. at Deal Castle. 



88 MEMORIAL OF 

" Norrvichy in the Downs, 20th December, 1745. 

" Sir, 
" As from the intelligence I have procured 
last night of the enemy's having brought away 
from Dunkirk great numbers of their small em- 
barkations, and many of them laden with can- 
non, field carriages, powder, shot, and other 
military stores ; the Irish troops being marched 
out of Dunkirk, towards Calais ; General Low- 
endahl, and many other officers, being at Dun- 
kirk, with a young person among them they call 
the Prince, and was said to be the second son 
of the Pretender ; as I can't but apprehend they 
are preparing for a descent from the ports of 
Calais and Boulogne, and which I suspect may 
be attempted at Dungeness, where many of my 
cruisers are in motion for, and I have some 
thoughts of my moving to-morrow with part of 
my ships, if the weather should be moderate 
for a descent; I thought it my duty, for his 
Majesty's service, to advise you of it, and to de- 
sire you will communicate this my letter to the 
mayor of Deal, and that the neighbouring towns 
should have advice for assembling for their com- 
mon defence ; that my cruisers' signals, for dis- 
covering the approach of an enemy, will be their 
jack-flag flying at their top-mast head, and firing 



ADMIRAL YERNON. 89 

a gun every half hour, and to desire they will 
forward the alarm. 

" I am, Sir, your humble servant, 

" E. Vernon. 

" To John Norms, Esq., at Deal Castle, 
or to the Major of Deal in his absence/' 

Upon receiving the above letter, the Deputy- 
Lieutenants of Kent published it with the fol- 
lowing invitation annexed. 

" Every body who reads the above letter, will- 
ing and ready to stand up for defence of their 
King and country, their liberties and lives, 
are desired to assemble on Sunday morning 
next, the 22nd inst., as soon as possible on 
horseback, with such arms and ammunition as 
they have, and to bring two days provisions of 
victuals with them. The place of rendezvous or 
assembling is Swinfield Minis. It is hoped all 
the parishes and the towns within 20 miles of 
the sea-coast any way will not fail to be there, 
with all the able-bodied men they have. 

" The parishes near to the Minis are desired to 
bring some pick-axes, shovels and axes along 
with them, besides their arms. 

" The Deputy-Lieutenants." 

Pour thousand men were accordingly assem- 
bled on that day. 



90 MEMORIAL OF 

All this time the enemies of Admiral Vernon 
had been using their influence against him at the 
Admiralty, hinting that he was not as vigilant 
as he should be, and did not keep a proper look- 
out on the French coast ; and many letters were 
written to him upon this subject by the Secre- 
tary for the Admiralty, finding fault with him 
for nearly every thing he did, and especially for 
having warranted a gunner on board the Pool, 
which the Admiral was about to send upon an 
expedition, and which ship was without that 
very necessary officer ; the Secretary informed 
him that my Lords did not approve of his having 
appointed the gunner, and directed that he 
would withdraw the warrant. 

This order the Admiral refused to obey, and 
tendered his resignation. And on the 1st 
January, 1746, struck his flag, and handed over 
the command in the Downs to Vice-Admiral 
Martin; and at the same time wrote the follow- 
ing letter to the Duke of Bedford, then First 
Lord of the Admiralty. 

" 2nd of January, 1746. 
" My Lobd Duke, 
"Your Grace having, from a nobleness of mind 
and humanity of temper becoming of your high 



ADMIRAL YEENOK. 91 

birth, espoused the cause of an injured innocent 
person, and honoured with marks of your 
generous friendship an officer you thought so 
deserving of it, so as to become his advocate, 
and procure his being restored to his rank in 
the Royal Navy, and employed in it accordingly 
at this critical conjuncture; as a testimony of 
your Grace's confidence that he bad judgment 
to execute it, and an honest zeal for approving 
himself a faithful, zealous and diligent officer and 
servant to our Royal Master. And I hope in God 
as well as I sincerely believe it to be true, that 
this officer, in the person of your humble servant 
the writer, has had that just regard for the dis- 
charge of the duty confided to him through 
your Grace's means, that he may with confidence 
assert that he has acted circumspectly, diligently 
and assiduously in the execution of that trust, 
as to have manifested to the world, that your 
Grace was neither deceived in your judgment 
of his capacity for the service of the Crown, nor 
his inclination to discharge his duty to our 
Eoyal Master, with a sincere honest zeal, for 
approving himself his Majesty's faithful subject 
and servant, which he has had the double in- 
citement to, of his duty to the King, and the 
just regard he ought to have for justifying your 



92 MEMOEIAL OF 

Grace in the good opinion you had entertained 
of him ; as I am conscious I have done nothing 
ever justly to forfeit that good opinion that 
engaged your Grace to honour me with your 
patronage and friendship, I entertain too good 
an opinion of your Grace to think I have not 
the continuance of it, notwithstanding the late 
incident of my being hunted out of my command 
by the operative malice of some malicious and in- 
dustrious agent : , that is too well screened over, for 
my heing able particularly to discover him and 
point out who it is ; so that must remain to me 
a secret, till some happy Providence in the 
course of time may more clearly discover it . 
not being nevertheless in my own mind doubt- 
ful, but I can trace the original cause of it, and 
guess pretty nearly at who may be the concealed 
director of it. 

"As the pen of the Secretary of the Admiralty 
conveyed these bitter shafts that were levelled 
at me, I thought it right to suggest that his 
pen might be tinged with a gall flowing from 
his own mind, beyond the direction lie might 
receive for it, from which I thought it my duty 
to acquit him on a gentlemanlike apology in re- 
gard to his office, which I was no stranger to his 
duty to obey, and on an assurance of a good 



ADMIRAL YEBtfOK. 93 

will he had always possessed, and I well knew I 
had never given him occasion to alter the senti- 
ments of a professed friendship for me. 

" And one of the occasions taken to justify this 
conduct towards me, having been that I had, 
within the Channel of England, on a ship's ser- 
vice being immediately wanted for proceeding to 
sea, and being without a gunner, (certainly a 
necessary officer for her defence), and which I 
could not think myself justified in permitting to 
go to sea without, presumed, as it is called, to 
warrant a gunner to her, as I judged it to be 
absolutely necessary for his Majesty's service, 
and the defence of the ship. 

" And having now stated the fact, I shall pre- 
sume to give your Grace my sentiments in that 
particular, viz. — That it is my opinion, that when 
the Admiralty is ordered by the Crown to fit out 
a fleet for the service of the Government in the 
Channel of England, or on foreign service, and 
the Admiralty had commissioned them out of 
the sea officers on shore, and appointed the Ad- 
miral to command in chief, in pursuance of his 
Majesty's pleasure, and the fleet were assembled 
together, that to support the necessary command 
of the officer the King had appointed, it was the 
Government's interest that the Commander in 



94 MEMOEIAL OP 

Chief should name all officers that fell vacant, 
and has not been denied while the depending 
service was essential ; but pretences from the 
Admiralty that the ships were not assembled, or 
not under orders, and as checks are in their 
power, they have contradicted it, though always 
to the prejudice of the Crown's service. For 
when the people of the fleet see their Commander 
in Chief can neither support their pretensions 
to merit, nor his own authority over them, they 
must naturally look after those who are no judges 
of their service, and renders the Commander 
contemptible to the fleet. This power is known 
to have been absolute in the Commanders in 
Chief in the Channel, and in one who has added 
honours to your Grace's family ; and when that 
power has been wanting, has, I believe, been 
always found prejudicial to the service of the 
Crown and prosperity of the kingdom. 

" And having given your Grace the trouble of 
reading my sentiments in this particular, I will 
now proceed to declare, that it is my opinion 
that this is the sentiment of Sir John jS" orris 
likewise, and that your Grace has most grossly 
been imposed upon in the assertion of Sir John 
JSTorris being of a contrary opinion ; and I thank 
God that Sir John Norris is now living, who 



ADMIRAL -VERNON". 95 

can satisfy your Grace, his Majesty, or the pub- 
lic, what are his sentiments, whenever it be 
thought proper to take his opinion upon it. 

" Tour Grace may think I talk with much con- 
fidence of Sir John Norris's opinion at this 
distance, but when I inform your Grace that I 
have served immediately under his command as 
a Lieutenant, when he served as first Captain 
under that brave, honest, and experienced Ad- 
miral, Sir Cloudesly Shovel, who was an honour 
to his country and the service, and whom, I be- 
lieve, no man knew that did not love and esteem 
him ; and I have on several occasions served as 
a Captain under Sir John Norris, whom I know 
to be a consummately experienced and gallant 
sea-officer, and have lived in an uninterrupted 
friendship with him; your Grace will not be 
surprised that I venture to assert what is his 
opinion as well as my own ; and were you to 
consult Admiral Matthew's or Sir Chaloner 
Ogle, though I don't pretend to give you now 
my opinion in regard to them, yet I do 
verily believe this to be their opinion likewise ; 
but of this it is easily in your Grace's power to 
satisfy yourself. 

" I shall now only add that I am at present 
detained here, for having my baggage embarked 



96 MEMORIAL OE 

for proceeding to Harwich in one of the armed 
vessels Vice-Admiral Martin has been so obliging 
to assign me, to carry to my house on the Ips- 
wich river. I propose, at present, being in Lon- 
don on Tuesday or Wednesday night, whenever 
it is I shall be at your Grace's door the next 
morning after my arrival, in order to pay my 
duty to your Grace, and afterwards before I set 
out for Suffolk, (if it has your Grace's approba- 
tion), to be presented by you to pay my duty to 
his Majesty. And the favour I shall now desire 
of your Grace is, that your Porter may have 
orders from you to let me in, if such a visit be 
agreeable to your Grace, and if not, that I may 
be told so, not to give an unnecessary trouble 
to you or myself. 

" I have begun with expressing a grateful sense 
of the testimony of the friendship you have 
honoured me with, which on all events I shall 
ever retain, as I may say it is a sort of heredi- 
tary inclination in our family, to have enter- 
tained an honour for your Grace, from the me- 
mory of that glorious martyr for the liberties of 
his country, my Lord William Eussell, the me- 
mory of which has in some manner been trans- 
mitted to posterity with my father's hand, whom 
I think was the Draughtsman of the Ducal Pa- 



ADMIBAL TEENON-. ■ 97 

tent in your Grace's family ; and I have heard it 
much commended for the elegancy of the style, 
and the just honours done to a nobleman, of so 
many amiable qualities, unsullied by any vices 
that ever I heard of. That your Grace may live 
and die as great an honour to your family, shall 
ever be the sincere wish of, &c. &c. 

"E. Vebnoit." 

On the 7th of January, 1746, Admiral Vernon 
arrived in London, and on the 10th went down 
to his country seat in Suffolk ; and finding that 
it was supposed he had been removed from his 
command, for not being sufficiently active against 
the enemy, he took steps to contradict such 
reports, and a short time afterwards two pamph- 
lets appeared ; the one entitled "Some Seasonable 
Advice from an honest Sailor, to whom it might 
have concerned for the service of the Crown and 
Country ;" and the other u A Specimen of naked 
Truth from a British Sailor" Prom which the 
following are extracts : — 

First pamphlet, entitled, "Some Seasonable 
Advice from an honest Sailor, to whom it might 
have concerned for the service of the Crown and 
Country" 

a 



98 MEMORIAL OF 

This pamphlet contained all Admiral Vernon's 
letters to the Admiralty from the 4th August to 
the 26th December. A few of which, with ex- 
tracts from others, are here given, to shew the 
Admiral's opinion on different matters of inte- 
rest in the navy. 

Impressing of Seamen* 

Admiral Vernon always spoke and wrote 
strongly against the pressing of seamen, as being 
both impolitic and injurious to the service, in 
which he shewed himself at least 100 years in 
advance of his age. 

On the 10th Oct. 1745, he wrote as follows to 
the Admiralty : — 

" Our long boats and cutters are all employed 
for impressing seamen, as their Lordships di- 
rected, (but to be sure the greater part of them 
will escape, as they are as industrious to avoid 
it, as we can be to execute it), and which I shall 
do with all possible diligence, as it is my duty, 
being ordered, tliougli much against my judgment 
and inclination. 

" The East and "West India men are gene- 
rally in a scorbutic state, that requires some 
refreshment and smell of the shore to recover 



ADMIBAL YERNON. 99 

tliem from, and for want of which it is to be 
feared the lives of many useful subjects to his 
Majesty are lost to the public. 

" I believe no one thinks the Crown of 
France is defective in any power over their sub- 
jects ; but yet even there, they shew a great 
humanity for the preservation of the health of 
their seamen, and care of them when sick ; and 
having brought them to a regular rotation of 
service, they are never under the restraint and 
confinement that ours are ; and therefore I can't 
but think it honest advice for his Majesty's ser- 
vice, that some Parliamentary provision should 
be provided for the Crown's obtaining the volun- 
tary service of our seamen ; that those who are 
to be depended upon for the defence of our pre- 
sent Royal Family, our religion, and liberties, 
should not be the only persons in this country 
that appear to have no liberty at all." 

Treatment of our Sailors. 

"5th Nov. 1745. 
He says, " It will be necessary to reconcile the 
affections of the seamen to the public sertice by a 
more humane treatment than they are at present 
subject to. I have long lamented their situation, 
and made some faint attempts towards relieving 



100 MEMOEIAL OE 

it, which appeared equitable, and might have 
been rendered effectual, in my poor apprehen- 
sion. 

(C For my own part, I have previously con- 
sidered it in the light that the preservation of 
our holy religion and support of the blessings of 
a Protestant succession, for securing that and 
our liberties under his Majesty's protection, de- 
pend entirely on our maintaining a superiority 
at sea, which will be always in danger of being 
lost, when we lose the affections of our seamen, 
to contribute to the preserving it. And there- 
fore I shall always think it the cause of Grod 
and the King, and worthy the most serious con- 
sideration of all who wish to secure to them- 
selves the happy enjoyment of both ; and I hope 
their Lordships will be so good as to excuse at 
least the over-flowing of my zeal for both, from 
the apprehensions of the danger that may arise 
to them for want of a timely attention to it." 

In another letter of the 13th Nov. he says, 
On Smugglers : — 

" I cftn't but think it a seasonable time to sug- 
gest to their Lordships that there are said to be 
in the town of Deal, not less than two hundred 
able young men and sea-faring people, who are 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 101 

known to have no visible way of getting a living, 
but by the infamous trade of smuggling, many 
keeping a horse and arms to be ready at all 
calls . 

" At Dover it is conjectured there may be four 
hundred ; at Eamsgate and Folkstone, three, hun- 
dred each ; and it is said, that within these three 
weeks no less than nine cutters at a time have 
gone off from Polk stone to Boulogne ; and that 
it is conjectured, that from the town of Folk- 
stone only, a thousand pounds a week is run 
over to Boulogne in the smuggling way ; and 
about six or seven days past, a Dover cutter 
landed goods in the night under the castle, that 
was carried off by a party of sixty horse, and 
the cutter supposed to have done it came into 
Dover pier next day ; and though most believed 
it was she, no one proceeded against them to 
make inquiry about it. 

" This smuggling has converted those em- 
ployed in it, first from honest industrious fisher- 
men, to lazy, drunken and profligate smugglers, 
and now to dangerous spies on all our proceed- 
ings, for the enemy's daily informatiqn. As 
this passes within my observation, I should 
think it criminal in me not to inform their 
Lordships of it ; I can't but think it a national 



102 MEMORIAL OF 

reproach upon us, to have let their villany and 
treachery run to such an extensive length." 

On the 24th November, he wrote the follow- 
ing letter to the Admiralty, upon the subject of 
Privateers. 

" I think the enclosed shews the genuine senti- 
ments of a Privateer, and that the profligate 
spirit that is nursed up in them, is what all pru- 
dent Governments should naturally weigh the 
consequences of; as their views are certainly 
only to serve themselves and not the public, and 
that the same body of men under good discipline 
and government, would be capable of doing 
much more effectual service to the public. 

" And of all the Privateers in the world, the 
English is the nation that has the least disci- 
pline and subordination amongst them. The an- 
swer of some may be, Have not Privateers 
brought great wealth into the country ? True ; 
but would not ships of war, allowed a latitude 
to cruise in proper stations, have done the same ? 
And look back to the reign of Queen Anne, 
when we had well conducted western squadrons, 
under the direction of experienced Admirals, 
with a proper latitude in their orders ; and it 
will be found that the trade was well protected 



ADMIEAL VEBNOtf. 103 

by them ; the enemy's Privateers suppressed ; and 
some detached to proper stations, that distressed 
the enemy's trade at the same time ; and were 
in the best stations with the main body for pro- 
tecting all these kingdoms from invasion. 

" And their Lordships well know, though I 
have many services enjoined me, I have very few 
ships to execute them withal, and many of my 
ships in no good condition ; but I will not fail 
of making the best use in my power of such 
means as are assigned me for it." 

" 26th November, 1745. 

"The Sheerness coming to an anchor, but just 
as I was despatching my letters away for the 
post, I had by that occasion only the pleasure 
to acquaint you that I hoped the Privateer prize 
he was bringing in, might prove one of the three 
I had intelligence had sailed from Dunkirk. As 
soon as I knew she was one of those three, I 
immediately made a signal for Lieutenants for 
draughting out of her all that were not subjects 
of Prance, but were going to join the rebels in 
Scotland ; and as the Captain told me, there was 
one there they called my Lord Derwentwater 
and his son, I ordered the Lieutenant of this 
ship to bring those two persons as part of those 



104 MEMOEIAL OF 

to be brought on board this ship, and he accord- 
ingly brought here the forfeiting Lord Derwent- 
water's younger brother, and his son, who has a 
commission as Captain in my Lord Dillon's 
regiment, in the service of the Trench King. 
His father is in regimentals, and claims to be an 
officer in his service likewise ; but has not yet 
produced any such commission to me, and fears 
through carelessness it may have been mislaid, 
&c." 

To the Secretary of the Admiralty. 

"December 1st. 

" I have read with great surprise the long para- 
graph in your letter, informing me their Lord- 
ships don't approve of my having appointed a 
gunner to the Fool, when the necessity of the 
service required it, and his Majesty's service 
must have suffered for the want of it ; and ac- 
quainting me, it is their Lordships' directions I 
should withdraw the warrants I gave to them 
for his Majesty's service. 

" I must say with concern, in answer to it, that 
I did not expect to have been treated in such a 
contemptuous manner, and that I can hardly con- 
ceive it to be their directions, till I see it under 
their hands in an order for me to do it ; and 
shall now intreat the favour of their Lordships 



ADMIRAL YERNON. 105 

that if they think it deserves an order, they will 
be pleased to direct it to my successor to put in 
execution ; as I must in such case intreat the 
favour of their Lordships to procure me hia 
Majesty's leave to quit a command, I have long 
thought too contemptibly treated, in regard to 
the rank I hold, for his Majesty's honour and 
service ; and I should rather choose to serve his 
Majesty in the capacity of a private man in the 
Militia, than to permit the rank I hold in his 
Majesty's service to be treated with contempt ; 
which I conceive to be neither for our Royal 
Master's honour or service. A private Qaptain 
over two ships, on any foreign service, exercises 
the power of filling up all vacancies under him, 
and it is for his Majesty's service he should be 
empowered to do so. 

" When I attended the — I was spoke to 

as a person of confidence that was to have had 
the chief command at home ; their Lordships' 
orders of the 7th of August seemed to design 
me for such, though speedily altered by those of 
the 14th, and I always suspected there was some- 
thing lurking under the avoiding to call me 
Commander in Chief anywhere, but only Ad- 
miral of the White ; though at the same time 



106 MEMORIAL OF 

letters passed through my hands directed to 
Vice-Admiral Martin (whom by my first orders 
I was to take under my command), styling him 
Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships in 
the Soundings. 

"But your letter, Sir, has now explained the 
whole to me. — I shall only add, this power I have 
known to be practised by Admirals in the Chan- 
nel ; that I think it for his Majesty's service it 
ought to be in exercise by them. The power of 
Eewards as well as Punishments I look upon to 
be essentially necessary to a Commander in Chief 
for serving his Majesty effectually ; and without 
it his Majesty's service will suffer in this par- 
ticular ; those that are expecting preferments in 
the Navy being seeking it by cringing ashore, 
instead of endeavouring to merit it by their ser- 
vices to his Majesty on board his ships of war, 
under the eye of those intrusted with the com- 
mand of them. I hope their Lordships will not 
think it too great a favour for me to be dispensed 
with the executing a direction I look upon to be 
prejudicial to his Majesty's service, and a treat- 
ment of me which I could not conceive I could 
have been thought to have merited from their 
Lordships ; but their relieving me from it, by a 



ADMIEAL YEENON. 107 

successor, will be the only favour I shall think 
of troubling their Lordships with." 

( < 5th December. 

" I have to acknowledge your's of the 3rd, with 
the two papers of intelligence inclosed of this 
present intended invasion, which I am inclined 
to think is in their intentions ; but imagine 
they may wait first for some intelligence from 
their friends and spies the smugglers, of some 
success to the rebels for encouraging them in 
it ; for I am sure our late weather will not be 
esteemed any great encouragement to them 
in it for fear they should meet Pharaoh's fate, 
&c. 

" I was glad to hear the Secretary of war is 
wrote to for sending orders to the troops quar- 
tered at Deal to have regard to prevent deser- 
tions from our hospital and sick quarters. 

" I am now come to the last part of your letter, 
in answer to mine of the first, and was pleased 
to find you had quoted the precedent of Sir 
John Norris's case in the year 1740. 

" Sir John Norris thought it right to appoint 
two officers on a vacancy that happened under 
his command, and I dare answer for him would 



108 MEMOEIAL OF 

not have thought it right, but as he judged it for 
his Majesty's service, and that his predecessors 
had done it before him ; and I don't think any 
one will say that Lord Orford, Sir G-eorge 
Booke, Sir Cloudesley Shovel, Lord Aylmer, 
Lord Berkeley, Lord Torrington, and Sir Charles 
Wager have not done the same. 

" Sir John Norris thought it so much a right 
in him, that when a person was sent down by 
the Board to supersede a warrant granted by him, 
he sent the person back with his warrant, and 
he was not received while he commanded. But 
when the service was over, and he returned 
to town, their Lordships superseded him : so 
that his acquiescence was necessity, not appro- 
bation. 

" I dare say Marshal Wade has a power to fill 
up all vacancies of inferior officers under his 
command, now he is in the field, at least under 
the degree of a Field Officer ; and as I think it for 
his Majesty's service, it should be so, and that 
it can't be hoped for to be carried on success- 
fully without it ; as I look upon his Majesty's 
service to be the sacrifice, in rendering the 
power and authority of his Majesty's General 
Officers contemptible. 



ADMIEAL YERNOtf. 109 

" In France they are distinguished by the same 
general name, and I have thought proper to 
make use of it here. And as I think it would be 
for his Majesty's service, to have this whole affair 
laid before his Majesty, for his Eoyal pleasure 
being known in what most essentially concerns 
him, I hope their Lordships will lay the whole 
proceeding before his Majesty, and am very de- 
sirous that the sentiments I have entertained of 
what is most for his Majesty's honour and ser- 
vice may stand the test of his Eoyal approbation 
or disproval. 

" The weekly accounts returned regularly every 
week, are an information to their Lordships' 
Secretary of what vacancies have happened, and 
they not being supplied, and the necessity of 
the service requiring a ship to be sent to sea 
for his Majesty's service, an Admiral bearing the 
white flag at the maintopmast-head, has war- 
ranted a gunner for the Pool, by removing a 
gunner of a sixth rate into her, and appointing 
a gunner to the sixth rate, who is a very good 
man, extremely well qualified for it, which has 
often been known not to be the case of some 
sent down by the Admiralty, where corporation 
interest may sometimes have had more influence 



110 MEMOEIAL OP 

than the merit of public service ; though the 
latter is most undoubtedly for the honour and 
interest of the Crown ; but the filling up the 
vacancy of a gunner is judged of so much im- 
portance to the fees of a Secretary of the Admi- 
ralty, that it is thought requisite to be writing 
letters as long as a Bill in Chancery upon it, 
which I think to be treating me in a contemp- 
tuous manner, I in no sort deserve. 

"If it be thought proper to lay the whole 
before his Majesty, I think it could not be 
done at a more proper season for his Majesty's 
information, than when there is living an Ad- 
miral of so long and faithful services, as the 
Eight Honourable Sir John Norris, who is now 
in London. ,, 

" 8th December. 
" I am glad to hear so active an officer as Cap- 
tain Eoscawen isappoi nt( d to succeed Commodore 
Smith in the command at the Nore ; and conclude 
the 'Royal Sovereign is ordered to have her lower 
tier on board, as that must be her principal 
defence and annoyance to an enemy, as she lies 
within the sands, where she can make use of 
them. 



ADMIRAL YEBNOff. Ill 

11 I have their Lordships' orders of the 5th, and 
when any Custom-house vessels arrive here to 
put themselves under my command, I shall im- 
mediately employ them to keep a watchful eye 
on the enemy's movements, that I may have the 
earliest advice for the attending on them where- 
ever they go ; which, if they come with those 
large fishing shallops, can't be designed for 
any other parts than the counties of Kent 
or Sussex. 

" I am glad to be able to acquaint their Lord- 
ships, that I hear the Dover privateers are 
willing to enter into the service of the Crown 
upon monthly pay, &c. 

" Though we are so short of seamen, I can as- 
sure their Lordships that it has not been for 
want of putting in execution their Lordships' 
orders about impressing. 

u But when we have sent our men away in ex- 
change, the long restraint they have been under 
makes most of them very backward in returning, 
and some to desert entirely, for of twenty-one 
sent up from this ship, not above three are yet 
returned ; and one fatal consequence of the con- 
tinuance of the custom of impressing, (a hardship 
upon our seamen, practised I fear in no other 



112 MEMOEIAL OF 

nation in the manner we do) has driven our 
merchants to man their ships homeward bound, 
often with the greater part of them foreign sea- 
men, by which even the press is disappointed ; 
and the impressing in general from confining 
great numbers of them together for a long time, 
and from depriving others from necessary re- 
freshments on shore to preserve the health of 
human bodies, destroys the lives of numbers 
annually, and occasions a general sickness 
among all the ships of the Fleet ; this ship hav- 
ing above sixty sick on shore, besides thirty 
sick on board, so that many of our ships are 
moving hospitals ; and impressing and general 
restraint is the occasion of it. For the human 
bodies can't support such long confinement on 
salt water, without being relieved by the re- 
freshments of the shore, as even medicines can- 
not cure the radicated scurvies contracted by it. 
And as I esteem it to be highly for his Majesty's 
honour and service that, while a Parliament is 
sitting, some humane method should be estab- 
lished for preserviug the lives of so valuable a 
body of men as our seamen, and reconciling 
their good will to the public service ; from 
which, in my opinion, great honour would result 



ADMIKAL YEENOlSr. 113 

to the Crown, and great prosperity and security 
to the kingdom, which is even now much endan- 
gered, from no such humane methods being es- 
tablished ; and as this is the only proper time a 
remedy can be sought for, and when the want 
of it was never more conspicuous, a sincere zeal 
for the honour and service of our Royal Master r 
and for the security and prosperity of his king- 
doms has prompted me to suggest my opinion in 
it to their Lordships for his Majesty's service. 

" Though the troops may not be at leisure 
either for mounting guard at our hospitals or 
preventing desertions, I hope they have general 
orders, wherever they are, to take up straggling 
seamen, and sending them to the sea-ports, for his 
Majesty's service." 

" December 13th. 

" I am extremely pleased their Lordships 
have sent the part of my letter, relating to the 
smugglers, to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, 

as I hope their Lordships will see Mr. S 's 

opinion of them too, that I sent their Lordships 
up by express yesterday ; for whatever calami- 
ties are likely to befall us, I am persuaded their 
treachery has in a great measure contributed to 
them. 

" As to what I am so politely acquainted of, 



114 MEMOEIAL OF 

that their Lordships have appointed a gunner 
to the Pool ; after my having informed their 
Lordships I had warranted the gunner of 
the Sheemess to that ship ; I must accquaint 
you in answer, it was what I little expected, 
and that I am determined to follow the ex- 
ample of Sir John Norris, and not permit that 
indignity to be put on me, while I remain 
in command here, but when he arrives shall 
civilly send him back again. That officer that 
don't picque himself on supporting his own 
honour and the dignity of the commission he 
holds under his Majesty, may not be the like- 
liest to defend the honour of his Prince, and the 
security of his country, against the face of his 
enemies ; and I will therefore never take the 
fatal step of abandoning my own honour. I 
have long suspected the ambition or envy of 
some one to have been driving their shafts at 
me: I hope that is not a reason the dignity of 
the flag I bear is so slightly supported. I will 
do the best I can to serve his Majesty diligently, 
faithfully, and resolutely, while I am continued 
in command here ; but as this treatment is a 
very ordinary return to it, I can't but say I 
have reason to be sick of a command under such 
usage. 



ADMIRAL VERNOK. 115 

" 16th December. 

" Their Lordships, I find by yours, seem to 
be as greatly surprised at my remonstrances, as 
I am at their treatment of me, that has given 
me so just an occasion for them, and which I 
think his Majesty's honour and service require 
I should have been redressed in, as I conceive it 
to be highly prejudicial to his Majesty's honour 
and service to have his principal General Officers 
treated with contempt when they are at the 
head of his forces, and endeavouring to exert 
themselves to the best of their abilities for 
serving him faithfully and resolutely, in sup- 
porting the honour of the Crown and the de- 
fence of his kingdoms. 

" The present force now with me for that pur- 
pose, are two fifty gun ships, two forty gun 
ships, and two sloops, together with two twenty 
gun ships at present stationed on the back of 
the sands to watch their motions from Dunkirk 
and Ostend, and early to advise me of it ; one 
sloop more between me and them, and the three 
Dover frigates, by my means so early engaged 
into the Crown's service ; two of them to watch 
their motions to the westward of Dunkirk, for 
preventing their slipping out to the westward, 
and the third close off Ostend, to the eastward 



116 MEMORIAL OF 

of my cruisers, which I will call a prudent and 
well concerted disposition ; and the Bedford^ pri- 
vate ship of war, is out under the same orders ; 
but I can't so well answer for the regularity of 
his execution of them. And this force, thus de- 
scribed, it seems my offence is, I have called a 
flotilla i and in regard to the importance of what 
it is to prevent, a descent on his Majesty's do- 
minions with twelve thousand men, I think it 
was right in me to call it a flotilla. 

" Two ships more, indeed, besides those de- 
tached from hence to join Eear- Admiral B , 

have been cruising on the Dogger-bank under 
my orders, which are the Mary Galley and the 
Squirrel, the term of whose cruise expired on 
the 10th : and as they have had nothing but 
southerly winds, they have been prevented by 
them from their return here, pursuant to my 
orders. But if they are endeavouring to exe- 
cute them by plying up to return here, they 
can't be better in the way of intercepting any 
of the embarkations going for Scotland. 

" We are not particularly informed what are 
the strength of the several ships they have col- 
lected together for the present for this em- 
barkation ; but I am fully persuaded there are 
among them many more of their privateers, 



ADMIRAL VERFOtf. 117 

taken up for the French King's service in it, 
than I have of his Majesty's ships under iny 
command ; and the La Fine and L'jEmeraude, 
I am informed, were French ships of war. 
And all their Lordships' advices, as well as mine, 
have agreed, that they have been told and have 
been expecting, that a squadron of French men- 
of-war from Brest or the western ports, should 
come to join them, and cover the said supposed 
intended descent ; and I have, pursuant to my 
duty, and from the result of my experience, 
suggested to their Lordships, that with a 
southerly wind it was very practicable for them 
to get by unobserved by our ships to the west- 
ward ; and if the others were ready to sail with 
them, when they had slipped by, and they too 
strong for me, they might execute their descent 
before their Lordships could have time to apply 
a preventive remedy against it, and they would 
have to trust to going north about, to avoid any 
force that might be collected together afterwards. 
And I will repeat it again, that I think the three- 
deck ships assembled at Portsmouth a very im- 
proper force to be hazarded in these northern 
seas, in this winter season of the year, and be- 
lieve there is no sea officer that is a seaman, that 
thinks otherwise, and would say so if he was 



118 MEMOEIAL OF 

asked; but my present duty and honest zeal for 
his Majesty's service, calls upon me to say so 
unasked. And if their Lordships think they 
have a properer officer to serve his Majesty in 
this station, God forbid I should be any obstacle 
to their sending him down to be employed here ; 
on the contrary, I shall have a pleasure in re- 
signing a command to him, their contemptuous 
treatment of me can give me but little satisfac- 
tion in. And though at this critical conjunc- 
ture I will decline nothing for his Majesty's 
service, I will repeat it, that I should serve his 
Majesty as a private man in the militia with 
more pleasure than I take in this command 
under the treatment I have met with of late ; 
since the two noble Lords, at the head of the 
Board, through the manifestation of their zeal 
for his Majesty's service, for defeating the pro- 
gress of the pilfering rebels within the kingdom, 
have been called away from their attendance 
at it. 

" The enemy's daily intelligence of our progress, 
I have frequently repeated it to their Lordships, 
comes from our profligate aud, as I esteem them, 
traitorous smugglers ; which I think it is high 
time there should be an effectual stop put to, 
before these vipers shall have carried on their 



ADMTEAL VEENOK. 119 

fatal intercourse with his Majesty's enemies, to 
the enabling them to attack us where we may- 
be weakest ; and have assisted them in the ex- 
ecution of it, as the intelligence I sent their 
Lordships points out they were retained for." 

"21st December. 

" In pursuance of the intelligence I sent yes- 
terday, I unmoored with the squadron last night, 
and as soon as the ebb makes, shall be under 
sail, working away for Dungeness, where I am 
persuaded the enemy might have in view making 
their descent, and hope I shall get there in time 
to prevent them. 

" I write you this letter on board the Norwich, 
but as soon as it is fair copied, and I have signed 
it, I shall embark on board the Monmouth; 
though I find some seem inclined to think there 
has been no preparations to invade us from 
Dunkirk, but were they at Dover they would 
soon think otherwise. 

" Vice- Admiral Martin, with three sail of men- 
of-war more, are just now coming to an anchor 
here also, and their Lordships know I have not 
yet received any orders from them concerning 
him, or so much as the advice he was coming 
here." 



120 MEMORIAL OF 

Second Pamphlet. — " A Specimen of naked 
truth from a British Sailor : London, 1746." 

" 25th December. 

" Sir, — My letters being made up, signed, di- 
rected, and sealed, for having gone by yesterday's 
post, if there had been any opportunity of wea- 
ther for it ; I shall begin this with informing 
their Lordships that yesterday evening, and till 
near midnight, we had a very hard gale of wind 
from the S. AV. to the S. S. "W., that obliged us 
to make our ships as snug as we could for riding 
it out, and thought it prudent even to get our 
topsail yards down into the top ; and I thank 
God we all rode it out without any damage ; and 
the weather moderating this morning, I got 
yards and topmasts up by daylight, and am now 
unmooring, and shall weigh with my division as 
soon as the ebb-tide begins to favour us for it. 

"I have just now received yours of the 21st, 
informing me of your having communicated to 
their Lordships mine of the 20th, with the seve- 
ral enclosed therein, as I have the several orders 
and papers that are come inclosed in yours. 
And I send you now inclosed for their Lordships' 
information, the copy of the orders I leave with 
Vice- Admiral Martin, for taking under his com- 



ADMIRAL VERNON". 121 

mand all the detachments, said to be coming to 
join me from Commodore Smith, for employing 
them under the orders he has already received 
from me ; those additional ones I now leave 
with him, and whatever other orders their Lord- 
ships shall judge expedient to send him ; but if 
there comes any fireships or bomb-ketches, he is 
to despatch all such after me. 

€t I am pleased to find their Lordships have ap- 
proved of the orders given to Captain Tomson 
of the Pool, who was happily anchored with all 
the East India ships in Westgate bay before this 
hard gale of wind came on, as I fear much damage 
might have happened to them, who were said to 
be very badly furnished with ground tackle. 

" I could not but be under some surprise what 
could be meant by the expression in your letter, 
of " having kept all my great ships in the Downs, 
u and employed only my frigates for gaining in- 
se telligence while the enemies' ships have passed 
" backwards and forwards, between Ostend, 
' 'Dunkirk and Calais at their leisure, without 
" hindrance or molestation." . I cannot conceive 
where you must have picked up such intelligence, 
so contrary to what is the fact, that my former 
letters have related to you to inform, their Lord- 
ships of, viz. — That amongst other frigates em- 



122 MEMOEIAL OF 

ployed on such services were the Eagle, York, 
and Carlisle, that have been some time since at 
my recommendation, and in good part by my in- 
fluence engaged into the Crown's service ; and 
are and have been ever since the 11th December 
acting under my orders only ; though your letter, 
Sir, mentions them as Privateers, as if they were 
acting under their own orders ; and within that 
time, I must repeat it now, five galliot hoys 
have been taken coming from Havre de Grace 
to Boulogne and sent into Dover ; and of those 
coming from Dunkirk going for Calais a dogger 
laden with five pieces of cannon, several field 
carriages, one hundred barrels of gunpowder and 
other military stores, has been set fire to, and all 
seen to blow up in the air by Captain Gregory, 
who was with them in a cutter on that service ; 
two of their shallop fishing boats sunk, twelve 
others of them chased on shore, and three with 
cannon and military stores brought into Dover, 
and a Calais dogger Privateer, of six guns and 
fifty men taken, thirty- one of which I have on 
board the Princess Louisa, and have desired 
Vice-Admiral Martin to give himself the trouble 
of examining some of them, to try if better in- 
telligence cannot be procured from them, than 
what Captain Hill has been able to gather from 



ADMIRAL TEUTON, 123 

them, which you had inclosed in my yesterday's 
letter, as you have had of the 12 sail of ships 
chased from within two leagues of Calais back 
into Dunkirk Boad, by the Saphire and Milestone, 
one of which they chased on shore upon the 
sands, and the Pilot would not venture so near 
as the Captain took upon himself to do. 

" Surely, these are instances of the enemy 
having been watched much closer than could 
have been expected in this winter season. And 
what are the large ships I have kept in the 
Downs ? The Norwich and Buby, two fifty gun 
ships ; for till the arrival of the Monmouth and 
Falkland, I have had no others. I thank G-od, 
by a prudent conduct, the enemy have been 
prevented from sailing either from Dunkirk or 
Ostend for this month past, and none of his Ma- 
jesty's ships have been shipwrecked by any im- 
prudent disposition of them, and that I think I 
have acted prudently and successfully in his Ma- 
jesty's service, though in many of your letters 
I have been treated as if I had done neither ; 
and to look no farther back, I think I am treated 
so in this letter of yours of the 23rd, which I 
desire the favour of their Lordships to call for 
the copy of, and have read to them ; as I cannot 
conceive any just grounds I have given for my 



124 MEMORIAL OF 

being treated in such a style in your letters, on 
facts that you must at least have been grossly 
misinformed in. 

" As for my reasons for mentioning the coun- 
ties of Kent and Sussex to be my province, I 
have some letters of yours that mention it to me 
as such, which are of an old date, and are in my 
escrutoire on shore ; but as there does not want 
a late instance of it in their Lordships' orders to 
Commodore Smith of the 3rd of this month, 
which you sent me a copy of by their Lordships' 
orders, I have sent you enclosed the preamble 
of that order, in which it appears to me pretty 
fully expressed so. I shall always serve my 
Eoyal Master with a sincere zeal for his service, 
and with the utmost diligence, resolution and 
capacity that I am capable of, to the best of my 
judgment ; and while my services are approved 
of, I shall always continue them with pleasure ; 
but if I am judged not to have a capacity for it, 
as by the style of the Secretary's letters seems 
to be insinuated, sure it is the fruits of a sin- 
cere zeal to say, that if you have thought of any 
one you judge more proper for it, all that I de- 
sire is, that his Majesty may be most effectually 
served, and I shall with pleasure resign any 
command I have to him. 



ADMIRAL YERKOtf. 125 

" Captain Knowles has brought another letter 
of yours of the 23rd, and that he is come to 
serve with me as a Volunteer, and as I well 
know Captain Knowles' zeal and activity for his 
Majesty's service, his coming here gives me a 
particular pleasure, as I shall be glad to advise 
with him for his Majesty's service, and at all 
times ready to furnish him with any opportuni- 
ties that he can suggest to me, for our Koyal 
Master's service, and defeating the enemy's in- 
tentions for invading his Majesty's dominions ; 
which, from being discovered by my cruisers, 
that the enemy were drawing their transports 
from the westward to Boulogne, and from the 
eastward from Ostend and Dunkirk to Calais; 
I am fully persuaded the enemy's intentions in 
those motions have been to attempt an invasion 
upon the opposite shore of Kent, from the ports 
of Boulogne and Calais, and which I have been 
endeavouring to move for preventing these three 
days successively ; am now unmoored for, and 
nothing but the weather shall prevent mer And 
their Lordships will see by my orders to Vice- 
Admiral Martin, (I have sent you enclosed the 
copy of) I have strengthened his command with 
all the force their Lordships have ordered here 
from Commodore Smith, and have left with him 



126 MEMOEIAL OF 

the copy of his orders you have sent me enclosed, 
and desired he will dispose all those put under 
his command, immediately on the services he 
judges most expedient for watching the enemy's 
motions from Ostend and Dunkirk. And as to 
the four ships lately arrived from Cape Breton, 
which, by their Lordships' orders of the 23rd, I 
am to take under my command, those I hope to 
meet withal in their passage here, and shall in- 
corporate into my division upon my meeting 
with them, or detach apart of them to join Vice- 
Admiral Martin as subsequent intelligence shall 
manifest to me may be most for our Royal Mas- 
ter's service, and defence of his dominions 
from the threatened invasion. 

" "We had some appearance for moderate wea- 
ther this morning, but the wind is backed to the 
southward, and a southern swell comes round 
the Foreland, and it gathers dirty and greasy to 
windward, that I am doubtful whether I shall 
be able to get out with it, but I shall not fail to 
attempt it, if there be any appearance of its be- 
ing practicable ; and the Captains of the Saphire, 
Folhstone^ Badger and Hornet, with the Dover 
Custom-house cutter, Captain Stringer, have 
all my orders for proceeding in the execution of 
their former orders, for the inspecting their pro- 



ADMIRAL VERNOtf. 127 

eeedings at Calais and Boulogne, and nothi 

either has or shall be omitted for his Majesfr 

service, that I can think of, or any one can si 

gest to me to be most expedient for it. A. 

you have always had copies of the orders I he 

issued for that purpose sent for their Lordshi 

approbation. You have enclosed the list of i 

Custom-house cutters that have appeared, 

of which I keep to act under my orders, and the 

other three to remain under Vice- Admiral M 

tin's. 

" I am, Sir, Ac." 

" Sir, — As it would be for his Majesty's serv 
to have a speedy communication of intelligen 
either by night or by day, of the enemies' i 
pearance of any embarkations, for attempting 
to invade his Majesty's dominions, I desire you 
will write letters to the respective church- war- 
dens of the parishes, &c.> mentioned in the mar- 
gin, to hoist a flag upon the church steeple as a 
signal for it by day, and keep a fire light in an 
iron pot at the same place as a signal by night, 
to be repeated from the steeples of the respec- 
tive churches, for communicating the intelli- 
gence from Beachy Head to the South Foreland. 

" I am, Sir, &c." 



128 MEMORIAL OF 

The following were the places mentioned in 
the margin : — Dover Castle, Foljistone Church, 
Sandgate Castle, Dim Church, the Ness Eye 
Church, Fair Leigh Church, Hastings Church, 
Pemsay Church, Beachey Head. 

To Vice-Admiral Martin. 

"1st January, 1746. 

" Sir, — I have just now received yours of the 
31st, by Captain Scott, of the Badger, with the 
inclosed from Holland, whose intelligence per- 
fectly agrees with what I found to be true, the 
enemies having been in motion from Dunkirk to 
Calais ; the twelve sail of ships having been 
drove back into Dunkirk Eoad by the Sapliire 
and JFolkstone, and several of the embarkations 
having been some burnt, sunk, and taken by my 
cruisers, the Carlisle and York frigates ; and you 
know the examination of those taken in the 
Duchess de PentJiievre agrees with the Dutch 
account. 

" Captain Owen had looked into Boulogne 
this morning before Captain Knowles did, and 
at the same time as he did, and he makes the 
enemy's embarkations to be above one hundred 
and fifty sail, and Captain Pigram, of the Rye 
cutter, agrees with him in his report, though 



ADMIRAL VERNOtf. 129 

Captain Knowles says he could see but sixty ; 
but I am inclined to think Captain Owen much 
the best acquainted with the harbour. 

" Tou know, Sir, my orders are to deliver this 
command up to you, which I am moving up to 
the Downs for, with this pleasing satisfaction, 
that I have from these accounts already put such 
a check to the enemy's intended descent, that 
it is to me very doubtful if they will venture to 
hazard it now. I shall, however, continue an- 
chored here till next windward tide, and pray 
open all my public letters as well as your own, 
to see whether I can continue to act, or be 
pleased to take the measures you judge proper. 
I have now Captains Owen and Bazely over at 
Boulogne, having detached them away for a 
fresh inspection, and before I weighed myself 
from Dungeness. I will not come into the Downs 
till the latter end of the evening's flood, for 
being at hand to receive their report and act 
conformably to it, and I hope by that time to 
hear from you again, and shall be plying under 
sail off Dover. I am, Sir, &c. 

" January 1st, at three in the Morning." 

To the Secretary of the Admiralty, 

" Sir, — Upon the first of yesterday's flood I 
weighed with the squadron from the westward 



130 MEMOBIAL OF 

of Dungeness, as I informed you I intended to 
do, having just before given out my orders to 
Captains Bazeley and Owen, in the Eagle and 
Carlisle frigates under their command, jointly to 
make sail over for Boulogne for taking a fresh 
inspection of the enemy's situation and motions 
at the port of Boulogne, under the particular 
orders I send you inclosed a copy of. And in 
my way plying up Channel, I was joined by the 
Folkestone and Triton, and Hornet sloop, and 
upon the tide being spent, I anchored with my 
squadron between Dover and Polkstone last 
night, and about eleven at night the York joined 
me from the Downs, and at half an hour past 
one in the morning, Captain Scott, of the Badger, 
came on board to me with a letter from Vice- 
Admiral Martin, and two letters inclosed from 
Holland. And though the Vice- Admiral has, 
as he says, sent you copies of them, yet as the 
advice was sent to me, I choose to do the same. 
" It could not but give me great pleasure to 
find the gentleman's letter from Holland en- 
tirely confirms the intelligence I have given 
their Lordships, and to find that he thinks with 
me likewise, that my diligent exertion of my 
duty has even been said there to have frustrated 
their intentions of invading this part of the 



ADMIBAL VEBNOK. 131 

kingdom this last full moon, of which nothing 
could give me greater pleasure than the having 
rendered such effectual service to his Majesty 
and my country, though I have been treated in 
that contemptuous manner in your letters. 

" I have given Captain H the orders you 

have inclosed a copy of, for his weighing with 
the first flood for making a fresh inspection at 
Calais this evening or to-morrow morning. As 
soon as the windward tide makes, I shall weigh 
with the squadron, and keep plying and exercis- 
ing my ships in line of battle, and for being 
ready at hand on any advice of the enemy's mo- 
tions ; till I have but barely time for anchoring 
in the Downs before it is night, when I shall 
obey their Lordships' commands, consign the 
command of the fleet to Vice- Admiral Martin, 
then strike my flag, and go on shore, pursuant 
to their Lordships' orders. 

" I am, Sir, &c. 

"E. Vernon. 

" January 1st." 

" The confession of G-eorge Harrison of Hast- 
ings declares, That on Thursday or Friday 
se'ennight lasb, he saw about 50 sail of transports 
of about 100 tons and under, in Boulogne har- 



132 MEMOEIAIi or 

bour, intended for an embarkation of troops, 
that about six or seven thousand were destined 
to embark there ; but he was informed the whole 
number was to be twenty-three thousand from 
different places ; that they work night and day, 
and even employed women to fit their vessels ; 
that as soon as convenient they intend to push 
for Dungeness, run their vessels ashore, and 
land their men ; that he believes they intend to 
take the opportunity of sailing the next spring- 
tide in the night ; that their sails were not bent 
when he was there, and the whole number of 
troops in Boulogne at that time was not more 
than 400, but the rest were to join immediately ; 
and it was publicly said they were intended for 
England, to join the Pretender if possible. That 
when he goes to Boulogne in the day time, his 
signal is a white Jack on the gaff head, and in 
the night a lanthorn hoisted and lowered three 
times, and when hailed by the sentinel, his 
watchword was Amie, then he is admitted on 
shore and carried to the Commissary, who ex- 
amines him, but he pretends he never would 
discover any news. That he heard some man 
was brought over by a smuggler, and landed at 
Pemsey Bay, but does not know who; that 
there was only one smuggler left in Boulogne 



ADMIEAL VERKOtf. 133 

harbour, which belongs to Eye ; and that they 
made use of a house at Boulogne, kept by Tho- 
mas Con ; that he is very willing to assist in 
any shape the Admiral shall think proper for his 
Majesty's service. He likewise says, that one 
Mr. Jermain, a merchant at Boulogne, told him 
the Pretender's second son was taken by one of 
our men-of-war, and was asked if he thought 
they would hang him. 

"17th December, 1745. 

G-eorge 
The mark H of 
Harrison. 
" The above examination taken by us : 
Ell. Smith. 
T. Gregory. 
' ■ C. Wirableton." 



Extracts from Letters from Holland m December . 

" That some of the Irish troops were to be 
embarked in large ships, but the embarkation, 
in which the French national troops were to be 
a part, was to be somewhere very near to Eng- 
land, and in order to help to transport them, 
the fishing boats along the whole coast were 
taken up for that purpose. And that the num- 
ber of boats taken up was said to be above 130, 



134 MEMORIAL OF 

and that the poor fishermen at Blankenbourg 
were lamenting, with tears in their eyes, that 
(by the King's order) they were to leave their 
daily business, and go they did not know where ; 
that the troops for England were said to be 
commanded by Count Lowendahl, and reckoned 
not less than twelve thousand. The common 
report at Dunkirk was, that they were all going 
to Scotland ; but many of their vessels being so 
small, I cannot but be of the opinion I was first 
informed, that the greatest part is for England, 
somewhere to the westward of Dover ; I think 
I could be positive in this if I may depend upon 
an information I had two days ago, that the 
people of the smuggling cutters, which trade to 
Boulogne, are all taken up to serve for pilots : it 
is a pity that such pernicious Villains cannot be 
destroyed, their villainous trade is the least 
thing I think of at this time, for they keep up, 
to my certain knowledge, a daily correspondence 
betwixt England and France, so that there is 
not the least thing done or ordered, but the 
enemy immediately know it by their means. 

" On the twenty-second some of their small ves- 
sels went from Dunkirk to Calais, so that every 
day, or rather every night since, they have been 
going from Ostend and Newport to the same 



ADMIRAL VERNON". 135 

place ; and now the talk is of their landing at 
Dover, and so marching directly to London. 

" "We have now a report that some of these 
transports that sailed last week, were fallen 
upon by some of your frigates, which may dis- 
concert the whole scheme of the enemy. 

" And from these checks it is said that the 
storm is now drawing to the westward, though 
not in my power to say positively where they 
design to embark, or where they are to land, but 
some mention they are to be supported by a 
squadron from Perrol." 



Taken in the Duchess de PentMevre, by the 
York frigate, the 19th December : — " That he 
was forced on board the Duchess of Penthievre 
that evening ; that they left in Calais harbour 
five or six other privateers ; the St, Nicolas a 
snow of eight carriage guns and ten swivels ; 
the St. Bennet of twelve carriage guns besides 
swivels; the Swallow, a lug-sail privateer of 
eight guns ; the Louis XV* a dogger of eight 
guns ; besides a half galley of 24 oars, and three 
guns, one of them in her prow; ten galliot 
hoys and flutes, all which had their sails bent, 
besides several small vessels and fishing boats, 
said to be detained to carry troops to England. 



136 MEMORIAL OP 

" That there have been for a fortnight past 
troops coming from Flanders daily into Calais ; 
some passing forwards towards Boulogne as 
others came in there ; about eight regiments had 
passed before he came away, and the night before 
two regiments came into town, and upwards of 
threescore waggons loaded with corn and meal ; 
they were covered, but he saw the sacks ; reckoned 
there were in the forts and citadel, including the 
garrison, which is 3000, at least 6 or 7000 men. 

" It is said the embarkation will be made from 
Dunkirk, Calais, and Boulogne. That several 
Irish were expected, who were to land first, and 
that they were getting the vessels ready as fast 
as possible. That, on the 17th, the Pretender's 
youngest son came into Calais ; that, on the ISth, 
when he went out of town, all the troops were 
drawn out, and they saluted him, Vive le Roy, 
he being accompanied by the Governor and 
gentry of the town, and a great number of 
oflicers; that he did not see the young man 
himself, or take any notice of him, but has heard 
from those who did, that he squinted. 

" Of the small embarkations there are said to 
be to the number of fifty, who have each a brass 
piece of cannon, with a field carriage pointed 
aft standing abaft the mainmast. 



ADMIRAL TEENON. 187 

" Tuesday, 31st December, a boat with a 
Lieutenant brought on board the Carlisle the 
Admiral's orders for both the Eagle and Car- 
lisle to weigh, for going to take a fresh survey 
at Boulogne ; at 11 the Admiral's orders were 
delivered to Captain Bazely, and we stood over 
together for Boulogne Eoad. 

""Wednesday, 1st January, at nine in the 
morning, looked into Boulogne Harbonr, and 
saw there of ships, snows, brigs, and doggers 
about 15 sail, galliot hoys about 36 sail, and of 
fishing boats about 80 or 90. They fired at us 
from the pier heads, and the battery to the east- 
ward of the town, and from Amblitus Castle ; 
we saw a privateer sloop that was sunk in the 
Eoad, which we believe was from the Saphire's 
guns, when she stood in, the same day that 
Captain Knowles was there in the Triton. 

"William Owen. 

"John Bazely." 



" Weasel, Downs, January 8th, 1746. 

" Sir, — Standing in on the 6th inst. within 
cannon shot of Boulogne, saw in the harbour 
about one hundred masts of small vessels and 
boats, at the same time five Englishmen, who 



138 MEMOEIAL OF 

had been taken prisoners in merchant ships, 
and one soldier at Eontenoy, who had entered 
into their service, as thousands had been forced 
to do, through the ill-treatment they met with in 
their prisons, deserted to us ; these men in- 
formed us of there being fifteen battalions at 
Boulogne, and three squadrons of horse, with 
their accoutrements, put on board the vessels, 
and all their warlike stores ; and that there is a 
person who styles himse]f Duke of York, and 
several more with English titles ; most of the 
forces are English, Scotch, and Irish, of which 
great numbers only want opportunities to de- 
sert. They say their numbers are about 11,100, 
and as many at Calais, and were to have made 
their attempt the last full moon, had they not 
met with information that Admiral Yernon was 
off Dungeness, their intended place of landing, 
with several men of war. They have expected 
the French fleet, of thirty sail of the line, all 
this month, wdth several transports, which, if 
they were disappointed at the Xess, are to make 
an attempt in Ireland. Colonel Lalley went 
over to England in a smuggling boat, dressed in 
a sailor's habit, where I hope he will meet with 
his deserts." 



ADMIRAL YEENON-. 139 

These letters, with the addition of the one 
written by Admiral Vernon to the Duke of 
Bedford, on striking his flag, were the whole 
contents of the pamphlet. 

These two pamphlets, containing the letters 
written by Admiral Yernon to the Admiralty 
and others, during the time he held the command 
in the Channel in 1745, proved that the idea 
(which had been whispered about) that Admiral 
Vernon had been superseded for want of due 
vigilance against the enemy, was totally false, 
and shewed the public that the Admiral had 
himself resigned his command, after the most 
irritating and contemptuous treatment by my 
Lords Commissioners. They also proved that 
there had been every intention on the part pf 
the French to have invaded this country, which 
had been frustrated by the judicious arrange^ 
ments of the Admiral. 

This expose so annoyed their Lordships, that 
on the 25th March, they ordered their Secretary 
to write to Admiral Vernon, to know whether 
he had had any hand in publishing these two 
anonymous Pamphlets, and not receiving any 
answer within a week, a second letter was 
ordered to be sent, of which the following is a 
copy :— 



140 MEMOEIAL OF 

"Admiralty Office, April 4th, 1746. 

"Sir, — I wrote to you on the 25th of last 
month, by direction of my Lords Commissioners 
of the Admiralty, to know whether you had any 
hand in publishing two very extraordinary 
pamphlets therein mentioned, containing ex- 
tracts of your correspondence with the Board, 
whilst you commanded his Majesty's squadron 
in the Downs ; or whether you know by what 
means they were communicated to the press ? 

" Their Lordships, after having made the 
strictest enquiry, had the strongest reason to 
believe that they could proceed from no other 
channel but yours ; notwithstanding which, out 
of regard to the rank you hold in his Majesty's 
service, they were unwilling to think you capable 
of handing those papers into the world without 
name, and more especially in so imperfect and 
disingenuous a manner, that they appear to be 
calculated to mislead and deceive, rather than 
inform the reader ; and for this reason they have 
given you an opportunity of justifying yourself, 
if you are able, or think proper to do it. 

" But not having received any answer from 
you upon this subject, I am directed to acquaint 
you, that if they do not hear from you in a week 
from this date, either by a letter or by your at- 
tending at the Board, to give them a satisfac- 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 141 

tory account, at least with regard to your own 
behaviour in this transaction, they must take it 
for granted, by your not denying it, that you 
are the publisher of both those pamphlets, and 
must proceed accordingly. 

" I am, Sir, 
" Tour most humble servant, 
" Thos. Corbett." 

To this letter the Admiral replied. 

"8th April, 1746. 

" Sir, — Upon my return to my house on Mon- 
day night late, from the country, soon after, one 
of your messengers brought me a letter of yours 
of the 4th instant, which, on perusal, I can't 
conceive even your long experience can ever 
have furnished any precedent for a letter of so 
extraordinary a nature. Whenever their Lord- 
ships think my attendance on them necessary 
for his Majesty's service, as I know it is my 
duty to pay a ready attendance on their orders 
for my doing so, I shall not fail to do it when- 
ever they appoint it. 

" I thank God I have hitherto discharged my 
duty to the Crown in every station I have been 
called to serve in, with a diligent care and at- 
tention to his Majesty's service, as was my duty ; 
and as I have ever looked upon it, of every one 



142 MEMORIAL OF 

in his Majesty's service, in their respective sta- 
tions, and hope I have carefully kept clear of 
intermixing any private passions of mine with 

the public service. 

" I am, Sir, 

" Tour most humble servant, 
"E. Veenon." 
Upon the 10th of April, upon Admiral Ver- 
non's coming from the House of Commons, a 
messenger met him at the door, and told him he 
had a message to him from the Admiralty Board, 
to attend them at their office at seven o'clock, 
which he said he would not fail to do. 

The Board consisted of the following members. 
John Duke of Bedford. 
Earl of Sandwich. 
Lord Archibald Hamilton. 
Lord Vere Beauclerc. 
Gr. Anson. 
G. Greville. 
H. Legge, Esq. 
Upon Admiral Vernon coming in, when sent 
for, after having waited without a considerable 
time, the First Commissioner told him, " That 
st they were the Admiralty Board, that in them 
" was vested the full power of the Lord High 
" Admiral ; and that he, as the first in the Commis- 
" sion, was the head of that Board, and the mouth 



ADMIKAL VERNON. 143 

" of it ; and that what he should say to him was 
" the sense of the whole Board, and therefore 
" desired he would give diligent attention to it ; 
" and that they would have him give a direct 
"answer to what they should require of him; 
" and that he should attentively hear what he 
" had to say, and not interrupt him. His dis- 
" course then rolled upon two pamphlets he had 
" upon the table before him, which he read the 
" titles of, being A Specimen, of Naked Truth, 
" tyc, and Some Seasonable Advice, 8fc, and ex- 
" claimed much against them ; and mentioned 
" two letters their Secretary had wrote to him 
" by their order, to know from him whether he 
"was the author or publisher of them, and ex- 
" pressed himself surprised and dissatisfied with 
" a letter of Admiral Vernon's he had before 
" him in answer to the Secretary; the style of 
" which, he said, was very extraordinary, and no 
" answer to the question they had directed to 
" be asked; but that they expected a categorical 
" answer, and that he should say Aye or No, 
"whether he was the author or publisher of 
" those pamphlets." 

When he was called upon to answer, he said, 
" He was very well apprized that in them was 
il vested the full authority of the Lord High Ad- 



144 MEMORIAL OF 

u miral ; and that as a Military Officer under them, 
" he owed all obedience to all their orders, as he 
" should always think it his duty to do all their 
i( military orders while he continued an Officer 
" in the public service ; and that he thought 
"he was right, in hinting in his letter to the 
" Secretary, that he believed no Military Officer 
" of his rank, had ever been treated in the man- 
" ner he had been, within the term of his long 
" experience : That for all questions that should 
" be asked, relative to his duty or experience as 
" an Officer, he should answer to the best of his 
"judgment; but as to the question now asked, 
" as he looked upon it to be of a private nature, 
" that he apprehended they had no right to ask 
" him that question ; and that he was under no 
" obligations of answering it, but had the com- 
" mon privilege that was due to every British 
" subject ; and that if his continuing an Officer 
" in the service was an eye-sore to any one, that 
" he was now grown to be an old man, and had 
" reason to be tired with being treated in so 
u contemptuous a manner." 

Upon which, the First Commissioner said, 
" If he would give them no other answer to the 
" question, he might withdraw, and they knew 
" what they had to do." 



ADMIRAL VERNON. 145 

Which, with his obeisance, he did accordingly. 
The next day Admiral Vernon received the 
following letter : — 

" llth April, 1746. 
" Sir, — I am commanded by my Lords Com- 
missioners of the Admiralty, to inform you that 
the several matters which passed betwen their 
Lordships and yourself, with relation to two 
pamphlets lately published, entitled, " A Speci- 
men of Naked Truth from a British Sailor;" 
and, " Some Seasonable Advice from an Honest 
Sailor, to whom it might have concerned, for the 
Service of the Crown and Country" having 
been laid, by his Grace the Duke of Bedford, 
before the King, his Majesty has been pleased 
to direct their Lordships to strike your name 
out of the list of Mag Officers. 
" I am, Sir, 
" Tour most humble servant, 

"T. Corbett." 

There could be no excuse for this tyrannical 
proceeding ; and if Admiral Vernon had not in 
his place in Parliament constantly exposed the 
abuses then existing in the navy, and by his 
manly and straightforward course in the House 
of Commons made himself obnoxious to the 



146 MEMOEIAL OP 

Government of the day, such an act of despotic 
malevolence would probably never have been 
thought of, 

From this time Admiral Vernon was never 
employed ; but his popularity in the country 
seems to have continued undiminished. His 
judgment and abilities as a statesman are un- 
questioned, and his character as a man of strict 
integrity and honour perfectly unsullied. 

The following verses were addressed to Ad- 
miral Vernon, after his dismissal : — 

" Go, last of Britons, who has dared be free. 
Terror of Spain, assertor of the sea, 
'Tis true thy hand is of the trident reft, 
And nothing but thy native worth is left ; 
That still will be illustriously prized, 
Tho' thou, to smugglers hast been sacrificed. 
Yet grieve not, Briton, honour's still thy own, 
Tho' ne'er a coronet thy brow has known." 



In 1749 we find Admiral Vernon taking a 
very prominent part in the Committee of the 
House of Commons appointed to consider the 
subject of the Herring Fishery, and in conse- 
quence of their Eeport 36500,000 was subscribed 
for carrying on these fisheries, under a corpora- 
tion called " The Society of Free British Fish- 
ery," and of which the Prince of Wales was 
appointed Governor. 



ADMIRAL YERNON. 147 

On Tuesday, the 5th July, 1750, at a Dinner 

at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, the Duke of 

Beaufort in the chair, Admiral Vernon brought 

with him some of the herrings catched by the 

British busses. On which the President drank 

his health, and thanks to the British Admiral 

for his great assiduity for promoting the Bill for 

encouraging the British Herring Fishery, and 

shortly afterwards the following verses appeared 

in the London Magazine : — 

ON MR. VERNON THE FISHERMAN. 

" See Vernon still approv'd the patriot true, 
His country's service always first in view; 
Long e'er his flag was hoist in Briton's cause, 
In senate he contended for her laws; 
Him strove in vain corruption's art to hush, 
And Bob employ' d, because he could not crush. 
Iberia felt him on a distant shore, 
When Britain's lightning kindled fierce he bore ! 
Tho' long neglected, when recalled he came, 
And brandished round our coasts the guardian flame; 
Again disgraced, he nobly, as at first, 
Retires, but not like Scipio in disgust. 
Great in retreat, tho' to the navy lost, 
The merchant shines with voluntary cost; 
And more renown this private venture brings, 
Than all the honours in the gift of kings ! 
But Vernon scorns this singular applause, 
Though forward, not alone in virtue's cause ; 
Firm by his side a citizen appears, 
Whose public acts outnumber far his years. 



148 MEMOKIAL OF 

Proceed, O Jansen ! * in thy triple state, 

Thou tradesman, senator, and magistrate; 

Proceed! each step advances thy renown, 

And Britain's fishery fix'd, thy character shall crown. ? 



On the 19th April, 1750, the magistrates of 
Edinburgh presented the following gentlemen 
with the freedom of the city, on account of 
their zeal for promoting the White Herring 
Fishery Bill, viz.: The Hon. Lieut.- General 
Oglethorpe, Admiral Vernon, Stephen Theodore 
Jansen, Esq., Sir Bichard Lloyd, the Hon. 
Alexander Hume Campbell, and Sir Bichard 
Lowther, Bart. 

From this time Mr. Vernon lived wholly re- 
tired, no way concerned in any public business, 
further than by having a seat in the House of 
Commons, as Member for Ipswich. In every 
debate relative to the sea service, he spoke his 
mind, with a freedom of speech, which, though 
it discovered the candour and integrity of the 
man, yet it procured him the enmity of the 
Ministry, and hindered his being employed. 

Mr. Vernon enjoyed a very good state of 
health ; he was, indeed, very lame, but his con- 

* Jansen was an eminent stationer, and Master of the 
Stationers' Company, M.P. for London, Sheriff of Middle- 
sex, and Alderman of Breadstreet Ward. 



ADMIKAL VERNON. 149 

stitution, otherwise, was but little impaired. 
The sickness which carried him off was sudden 
and unexpected ; he was perfectly well on Fri- 
day the 28th of October, 1757; about two 
o'clock in the morning of the 30th he awaked 
out of his sleep and complained of a heaviness 
at heart ; a physician was sent for, but his pain 
increased so violently, that he expired in the 
arms of his servant, before any assistance could 
be brought. 

Mr. Vernon was of short stature, of dark 
complexion, had a piercing eye, a searching 
look, and a majestic bearing. He was a strict 
disciplinarian, insisting upon officers doing their 
duty with preciseness; he was assiduous in 
visiting the hospitals, inspecting the provisions 
and clothes ; and never was known to tarry all 
night ashore while in harbour. He was ad- 
mitted to be one of the most accomplished sea 
officers that ever bore command. 

He was married in early life to Sarah, 
daughter of Thomas Best, of Chatham, Esq., 
and by her had three sons, who all died early. 
Mrs. Vernon died 9th May, 1756, aged 57. 

In 1763, James Vernon Lord Orwell erected 
a monument, in "Westminster Abbey, to his 
uncle, Admiral Vernon, with the following in- 
scription: — 



*s 



150 MEMORIAL OP 

Sacred to the Memory 

of 

Edwaed Vernon, 

Admiral of the White Squadron 

of the British Fleet. 

He was the second Son of James Vernon, 

who was Secretary of State to King William III., 

and whose abilities and integrity 

were equally conspicuous. 

In his youth he served under Admirals Shovel and Rooke ; 

By then example he learnt to Conquer. 

By his own merit he rose to Command. 

In the War with Spain, in mdccxxxix, 

He took the Fort of Porto Bello 

with Six Ships, 

A force which was thought unequal to the attempt. 

For this he received 

The Thanks of both Houses of Parliament. 

He subdued Chagre; and at Carthagcna 

Conquered as far as naval force could carry victory. 

After these services he retired, 

Without place or title, 

From the excesses of Publick 

To the enjoyment of Private 

Virtue. 

The testimony of a good Conscience was his Reward. 

The love and esteem of all good men 

His Glory. 

In battle, tho' he was calm, he was active ; 

and tho' intrepid, Prudent; 

Successful, tho' not Ostentatious ; 

ascribing the Glory 

to God. 

In the Senate he was disinterested, vigilant and steady. 

On the xxx day of October, mdcclvii. 

He died as he had lived, 



ADMIRAL YERNOtf. 151 

The friend of Man, the lover of his Country, 

The father of the Poor, 

aged lxxiii. 



As a memorial of his own 

Gratitude, and of the Virtue 

of the Benefactor, this Monument 

was erected by his nephew, 

Lord Orwell, in 

the Year 

1763. 



THE END, 



G. NORMAN, PRINTER, MAIDEN LANE, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON. 






&J-4'*7'4 



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